To the editor:
While attending a Maine Masonic College seminar on “Civility” last Saturday in Bangor, I reflected on an act I had experienced the previous evening.
About 7 o’clock my lawn mower ran out of gas under a light on Pleasant Street. As I was trying to push and turn my riding lawn mower, a car came down the street. The driver slowed down and passed me by but then stopped and backed up. He was probably half my age, mid-30’s or so.
At the same time a young man who had been shooting hoops just down the street walked by and stopped to help. He was about half the age of the other helper.
Neither knew me or each other but both stopped to help. Some may call it a random act of kindness but two at the same time! No, I prefer to think of it as an act of civility in Houlton.
We should think of civility as being more than just being courteous to each other. It comes from the concept of civilization where all people come together with a common goal or need for all getting along and helping one another.
I thanked the men for helping me but didn’t get their names. I now wish to thank them for their civility and making Houlton the friendly town that we know it to be.
Dick Rhoda
Houlton
