BS: Random Act of Kindness

Subject: BS: Random Act of Kindness
From: Arkie
Date: 10 Nov 08 - 10:51 AM

This story has apparently been around for a while but it is new to me and if it has been posted at Mudcat I missed it. Being a bit skeptical about emails, which is how the story arrived on my doorstep, I tried to check it out. I did not find any references on Snopes but the Urban Legend site considered it true. There is a photograph that accompanied the story which supposedly first appeared in a Norwegian newspaper.

ÅSGÅRDSTRAND (VG): Mary was a newlywed and ready to move to Norway, but was stopped at the airport because she didn't have enough money for the trip. Then a stranger turned up and paid for her.

Mary Menth Andersen was 31 years old at the time and had just married Norwegian Dag Andersen. She was looking forward to starting a new life in Åsgårdstrand in Vestfold with him. But first she had to get all of her belongings across to Norway. The date was November 2nd, 1988.
At the airport in Miami things were hectic as usual, with long lines at the check-in counters. When it was finally Mary's turn and she had placed her luggage on the baggage line, she got the message that would crush her bubbling feeling of happiness.
-You'll have to pay a 103 dollar surcharge if you want to bring both those suitcases to Norway, the man behind the counter said.
Mary had no money. Her new husband had travelled ahead of her to Norway, and she had no one else to call.
-I was completely desperate and tried to think which of my things I could manage without. But I had already made such a careful selection of my most prized possessions, says Mary.

Although she explained the situation to the man behind the counter, he showed no signs of mercy.
-I started to cry, tears were pouring down my face and I had no idea what to do. Then I heard a gentle and friendly voice behind me saying, That's OK, I'll pay for her.
Mary turned around to see a tall man whom she had never seen before.
-He had a gentle and kind voice that was still firm and decisive. The first thing I thought was, Who is this man?
Although this happened 20 years ago, Mary still remembers the authority that radiated from the man.
-He was nicely dressed, fashionably dressed with brown leather shoes, a cotton shirt open at the throat and khaki pants, says Mary.
She was thrilled to be able to bring both her suitcases to Norway and assured the stranger that he would get his money back. The man wrote his name and address on a piece of paper that he gave to Mary. She thanked him repeatedly. When she finally walked off towards the security checkpoint, he waved goodbye to her.

The piece of paper said 'Barack Obama' and his address in Kansas, which is the state where his mother comes from. Mary carried the slip of paper around in her wallet for years, before it was thrown out.
-He was my knight in shining armor, says Mary, smiling.
She paid the 103 dollars back to Obama the day after she arrived in Norway. At that time he had just finished his job as a poorly paid community worker* in Chicago, and had started his law studies at prestigious Harvard university.
In the spring of 2006 Mary's parents had heard that Obama was considering a run for president, but that he had still not decided. They chose to write a letter in which they told him that he would receive their votes. At the same time, they thanked Obama for helping their daughter 18 years earlier.
In a letter to Mary's parents dated May 4th, 2006 and stamped 'United States Senate, Washington DC', Barack Obama writes**:
'I want to thank you for the lovely things you wrote about me and for reminding me of what happened at Miami airport. I'm happy I could help back then, and I'm delighted to hear that your daughter is happy in Norway. Please send her my best wishes. Sincerely, Barack Obama, United States senator'.
The parents sent the letter on to Mary.

This week VG met her and her husband in the café that she runs with her friend Lisbeth Tollefsrud in Åsgårdstrand.
-It's amazing to think that the man who helped me 20 years ago may now become the next US president, says Mary delightedly.
She has already voted for Obama. She recently donated 100 dollars to his campaign.
She often tells the story from Miami airport, both when race issues are raised and when the conversation turns to the presidential elections.

End of article. The picture attached shows Mary holding the letter.

Subject: RE: BS: Random Act of Kindness
From: Amos
Date: 10 Nov 08 - 10:55 AM

WHat an amzing story!! I love to believe it. Thanks.

It looks like we chose a good man.



A

Subject: RE: BS: Random Act of Kindness
From: bfdk
Date: 10 Nov 08 - 11:30 AM

The original story is here, dated 4th October, so it's not that old. The story is the same as that relayed by Arkie. However, bear in mind that VG is the Norwegian equivalent of the British News of the World. Think Tabloid.

Bente

Subject: RE: BS: Random Act of Kindness
From: Paul Burke
Date: 11 Nov 08 - 03:57 AM

C'mon, a few more stories like this and someone will be asking Pope Benny Duck Nazinger to canonise him. The guy is a decent bloke, and probably the best thing that's happened to the US since ...since... Lewinsky didn't inhale, but I sincerely hope he's not a plaster saint.

I just hope he's inclined to tell most of the truth, take good rather than expedient advice, and open channels to people of goodwill in other cultures, rather than trying to court them with heavy ordnance.

Subject: RE: BS: Random Act of Kindness
From: Amos
Date: 11 Nov 08 - 07:49 AM

Aw, Paul. It may be a true anecdote--its not beyond his character--and in general he's self-confessed as not worthy of canonization anyway.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Random Act of Kindness
From: Amos
Date: 11 Nov 08 - 11:54 AM

BEsides, what have you got against the idea that he might prove to be a good human being as well as a comeptent exec?



A

Subject: RE: BS: Random Act of Kindness
From: Arkie
Date: 11 Nov 08 - 12:10 PM

That Obama should be canonized had not occurred to me but I can appreciate someone who when faced with another fellow human being in crisis can act with authority and compassion. I did feel that the story was a bit mushy and not an example of good journalim which could be attributed to the nature of the publication which Bente has pointed out.

Subject: RE: BS: Random Act of Kindness
From: Amos
Date: 11 Nov 08 - 12:57 PM

D'accord, Arkie. Warm and fuzzy. But a good tale, if true.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Random Act of Kindness
From: semi-submersible
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 08:39 PM

I want this to be true.

Subject: RE: BS: Random Act of Kindness
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Nov 08 - 05:41 AM

It doesn't seem at all improbable. I'm sure there are a lot of Mudcatters who would have done the same, and unless Obama's been fooling everyone,m it sounds like the kind of thing he'd have been likely to do.

I'm glad it seems that this story came out spontaneously, rather than from Obama's campaign.

Subject: RE: BS: Random Act of Kindness
From: open mike
Date: 13 Nov 08 - 12:41 PM

we could use some kindness in the white house..
one past president claimed "a kinder, gentler"
nation, but we have yet to see it!

perhaps we should re-name the white house to
the president's house or other name?