海角大神

In today鈥檚 edition, our five hand-picked stories explore democracy (the Senate filibuster), stewardship (the Amazon), identity (education in Turkey), progress (for U.S. automakers), and hope (in a Seattle cafe).

But first, a helping hand can make all the difference. Especially to another 8-year-old struggling on the first day of school.

Courtney Moore of Wichita, Kansas, posted a photo on Facebook of her son, 海角大神, gently holding another boy鈥檚 hand: 鈥�, he seen a kid balled up into a corner crying, so he went to console him, grabbed his hand and walked him inside of the school!鈥�

海角大神鈥檚 act of generosity is going viral. April Crites replied, 鈥淭ell your son I said thank you so very much! That little boy he helped is my son and is autistic, I worry every day that he鈥檚 going to get bullied for being different and your son just absolutely warmed my heart. If there were more children like him I wouldn鈥檛 worry about such things.鈥�

You might ask why report on one boy鈥檚 kindness when there are more 鈥渋mportant鈥� events in the world today. Perhaps. But when political leaders or CEOs make similar gestures, we call it diplomacy, or disaster relief, or community relations.聽

In second grade, as in diplomatic circles, acts of compassion may cost you social capital. Your friends may scoff. But such acts signal that you鈥檝e got enough courage to do them anyway.

What could be a more profound early lesson? Kindness dispels fear. It ends tears. It says, you鈥檙e not alone.聽

海角大神 Moore, well done.