By Kevin Henning
For the “Progressive Views” column, Boerne Star, May 25, 2025
More than I would like, I find myself starting to think unkind thoughts. This did not seem to be a major problem, for me, prior to 2016; unfortunately it is now getting worse. Kindness is simply being friendly, generous, and showing compassion towards others, without expecting anything in return. It’s about thinking and acting with consideration and caring for our fellow humans on our journey through life. When I feel an unkind thought start to emerge, I try to think of the folks who are my kindness heroes.
Kurt Vonnegut was a champion advocate for kindness, believing it to be a fundamental rule of life. I’ve enjoyed reading many of his books over the years and recently reread “God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater” where he addressed the importance of being kind. His writing was a unique mix of science-fiction, satire and moral lessons. He was named the American Humanist Association’s Humanist of the Year in 1992.
Kurt served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was awarded both a Purple Heart and a Prisoner of War Medal. He was captured by German forces at the Battle of the Bulge and was a prisoner of war and witnessed the bombing of Dresden. This influenced his writing which often advocated for peace and understanding. His famous line in “God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater” captures his philosophy quite well: “Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It’s round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you’ve got about a hundred years here. There’s only one rule that I know of, babies—: ‘…you’ve got to be kind.’”
My wife and I have been Tony Bennett fans for over 50 years and were quite touched to see Lady Gaga become his dear friend and musical partner. Their work together, as Tony struggled with dementia, was a true act of kindness by Lady Gaga. “Love for Sale,” the album they made before Tony died, is a listening feast.
Lady Gaga is a champion for mental health and for creating a kinder world. She co-founded the Born This Way Foundation with her mother. The Foundation, which we contribute to, runs programs focused on youth mental health, particularly to help eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health for young people. She also uses her fame to speak up on many issues like climate change, HIV/AIDS education, Black Lives Matter, and LGBTQ+ rights worldwide. She is a great example of behaving as a kindness role model.
Six years ago, Sandy and I had the pleasure of enjoying a “Willie” concert at the Majestic Theatre. He was fabulous and we were touched to see him spend 45 minutes signing autographs. A true display of kindness after being onstage for almost two hours.
Author Janet Rupnow says that “Willie Nelson has a way of bringing people together. People who might think they’re too different to connect. He breaks down barriers, reminding us that in the end, labels are just illusions. I believe all people deserve love and kindness, especially those who don’t fit the mold or fall outside the majority. Our differences should be embraced, not feared. Inclusion makes us stronger, and connection is what truly matters… More unity, less division. More kindness, more music, and a little, no, ALOT, more ‘Willie’ energy in the world.”
In 2010, Willie was awarded the “Feed the Peace” award from The Nobelity Project for his extensive work with Farm Aid and overall contributions to world peace. Willie likes to say: “Anybody can be unhappy. We can all be hurt. You don’t have to be poor to need something or somebody. Rednecks, hippies, misfits – we’re all the same. Gay or straight? So what? It doesn’t matter to me. We have to be concerned about other people, regardless.”
These three folks demonstrate that being kind is special and can go a long way to making our world a better place. Shouldn’t we all practice a bit of kindness in our daily lives?
To learn more, check out the Kendall County Democratic Party website at www.kcdems.us.
Kevin Henning is a local Democrat.
