Article pointed out act of joyful kindness

Published 3:34 pm Sunday, November 2, 2008

Regarding Kent Reporter’s Oct. 17 online article, “We are our brother’s keeper? Kent merchant aids homeless.”

What a pleasant article about two people pursuing their values, an acknowledged win-win. It’s lovely to see people enjoying their life and helping others in a way that makes them happy too.

I don’t think that’s being anyone’s “keeper” – that’s being rational in working toward your own happiness. I think Ayn Rand was eloquent on this point when she described the confusion around “altruism” (www.aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/altruism.html).

Being joyously kind is very different from being self-sacrificing or duty-bound in any way.

Rachel Miner

Kent