BS: Kindness of a Stranger

Subject: Kindness of a Stranger
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 08:27 AM

Many times in life we are surprised by the kindness of people we've never met. I received some wonderful dulcimer music and explanations of modal scales.

Thanks Sorcha!

Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Kindness of a Stranger
From: GUEST,Neil Lowe
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 08:33 AM

..."I've always depended on the kindness of strangers." -Blanche Dubois, A Streetcar Named Desire

Subject: RE: BS: Kindness of a Stranger
From: Caitrin
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 09:22 AM

Indeed, Mary. People here have been most kind and patient in helping me to alleviate my ignorance. : ) Thanks, all.

Subject: RE: BS: Kindness of a Stranger
From: Amos
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 09:27 AM

Hell, we aren't strangers, are we?

Don't we all do the same bass runs?

A folksinger and songwriter named Andrew Calhoun has a funny one called "Folksingers Are Boring" which includes the lines:

Folksingers have flabby buns
They always play the same bass runs
They're against the private ownership of hand guns
Folksingers are boring. Everybody!

Boring, boring, oh so very boring
Nobody comes to the coffeehouse
Folksingers are boring.

But I think it was written out of bitterness ! :>)

Amos

Subject: RE: BS: Kindness of a Stranger
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 09:42 AM

There is a Maritime expression I think say's it all. There are no strangers, only friends we have'nt met yet. Kindness is international, and the last hope of humanity; but it should not blind you to the fact that not all who call are friendly. If some one comes in peace they will leave welcome and entertained, if in need they shall receive aid. I they come as a thief in the night or day, they may find that not everyone shares the above sentiments. Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Kindness of a Stranger
From: Sorcha
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 10:13 AM

Your're entirely welcome, Mary in K. Hope it helps. We Americans always thought it was Will Rogers who said that about strangers he hadn't met yet....

Subject: RE: BS: Kindness of a Stranger
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 11:34 AM

I've said it before (and will no doubt say it again, being a boring old fart,)the Greek for guest and stranger is the same: xenos. The Mudcat has the same quality
RtS (strange, but I hope, not a stranger)

Subject: RE: BS: Kindness of a Stranger
From: TerriM
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 01:33 PM

I was having lunch in my car today when an old lady fell over, right into a holly bush across the road from me. I jumped out to go and help her up and get her inside her house and completely forgot I'd left the keys in the ignition and my bag and mobile phone on the car seat. When I got back, sure enough, a shifty looking guy was hanging around my car. I'm ashamed to say I gave him a bit of a suspicious look before he told me he had seen what happened and thought he'd better keep an eye on my car til I got back. Don't know whether this makes me a good person or a bad person, maybe just human. Terri

Subject: RE: BS: Kindness of a Stranger
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 02:01 PM

xenos = guest = stranger.

Hence xenophobia. Guests aren't always welcome.

Funny you never hear the word xenophilia? I reckon there's a lot of it around on the Mudcat, in spite of occasional irruptions of paranoia.

Chesterton once said that the reason it's got both "Love your neighbour" and "Love your enemy" in the Gospels is because they tend to be the same people.

Then there's the story of the new Member of Parliament excitedly talking about facing the enemy lined up on the opposite benches - the veteran with him says "No, they aren't your enemies, they are your opponents. You find your enemies among the people behind you and around you."

Subject: RE: BS: Kindness of a Stranger
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 02:25 PM

..now I'm being an even more pedantic old fart: philoxenia is Greek for hospitality literally love for guests/strangers, which in my experience is still true of most Greeks - and most Mudcatters.
RtS