'Finer Things' holiday promotes praise, thanks

Now, lest anyone think this is merely a column born of desperation (which is only part of the story), "praise" is indeed one of the four types of editorials, and a critically underused one at that. In praise of a few of the finer things:

Kudos to those who help people in wheelchairs climb steep curbs, and those who move to allow the visually impaired to pass. Ramps, electric doors, and canine companions sometimes fail to substitute for common sense and decency among people.

Thanks to the gentlemen who still hold doors for ladies - and also hold them for those women who do not appreciate courtesy. The appropriate response to a courtesy is a simple "Thank you."

Kudos to the students who dare to respectfully hold different opinions than their professors, and are not afraid to explain their reasoning. Education is not about professors instilling wisdom in students, but it is about capturing and sharing the intelligence we all possess.

Thanks to the professors who respect their students enough to acknowledge what they do not know, while patiently answering questions about what they do know. Students can learn not only from their expertise, but from their humility.

Kudos to the university police for keeping crime down on this large and thriving campus. However, they cannot do it alone, so kudos to those who try to prevent crime by locking their doors, bolting down anything that moves, and reporting crime when they see it.

Thanks to the bicyclists and motorists who politely allow pedestrians to cross the street - and pedestrians who return the favor. Special thanks to those who let a car out of a parking lot in rush hour rather than racing to a red light.

Kudos to the many Student Union employees who patiently serve us our food, clean our facilities, and answer our questions at the Information Desk, even when we fail to acknowledge their contribution.

Thanks to those who clean up their messes. Would our mothers let us leave newspapers and food containers strewn all over the backyard?

Kudos to the students who take leadership positions in clubs or student government, knowing that they have something to give, despite the words of people who gripe for the sake of griping.

Thanks to those campus groups which serve our spiritual needs. The people to whom they minister realize that a living faith is something they would never choose to live without.

Kudos to those who manage to stay in shape in months other than May, June, July, and December. A body is a terrible thing to waste.

Finally, the greatest thanks of all is for the myriad other blessings in our daily lives, from running water to CD players. And, the greatest praise of all is to those few among us who keep the Finer Things holiday even when their lives do not seem quite so fine.

Kristen Roberts is a pre-education sophomore who believes that it is never too late to learn two skills that never go out of style: how to respect others, and how to use a garbage can. Her column, 'Life in Balance,' appears every other Thursday. Her homepage can be found at http://www.u.arizona.edu/~knr.

By Kristen Roberts
Arizona Daily Wildcat
February 6, 1997