Intervention: You Ain't Keepin' It Real

In the restaurant industry, there is an ethical practice that is called truth of the menu. This entails that the restauranteur is obligated to provide an accurate description of ingredients or products that are to be consumed by the customer. This is an essential aspect to our dining safety. It becomes essential for those of us with food allergies, or with restricted diets. It is also an important factor towards being responsible consumers. When a food item is presented as Certified Organic, Cage Free-Free Range, or Free Trade, we have confidence in knowing that we are getting what we pay for.

In other industries this is not the case. A time or two I have received a not-so-great haircut from Great Clips. Another time I received a losing donut at Winchell's and a less than more better burger at Mo Better Meatty Meat Burgers(now closed). My favorite example has to be BEST Products(1957-1997), which has been closed now for more than a decade.

My hometown has been infected by this type of overly boastful marketing. Just around the corner from where I live there is a storage facility that claims to be an A+. From my observations over the last two years, it is my opinion that this grading is inaccurate. I have noticed the front security gate unlatched late at night and acts of vandalism scattered throughout the property. There is often empty alcohol containers laying about and on a few occasions I have seen the police on the premises doing some sort of investigating.

It is time that we, as consumers, take a stand against local businesses that do not keep it real.

Pac 'N' Save Intervention

Pack 'N' Save is the local grocery store in Seward. As is the practice of most grocery stores now, they provide sanitary wipes to clean the shopping cart handles. But how many people actually use them? How many each year become sick due to the flu virus, strep bacteria that they touch when shopping for groceries for their families?

This week's intervention was an effort to stop the spread of germs. I went into Pac 'N' Save, used their Sani-wipes, and cleaned the handles of each and every grocery cart in order to keep the people of Seward safe and healthy.

Concordia University Intervention #1

The recipient of this weeks intervention in Seward, Nebraska is the small Lutheran institution Concordia University. Formed in 1894, Concordia's current mission says that they are "committed to providing excellent professional and liberal arts programs in an environment that richly supports the Christian growth of its students." Like many other small schools unfunded by the government however, they have succumbed to the pressure to build the athletic program beyond their financial means in order to attract students.

Therefore, this week's intervention can be seen on the football field at Concordia. It is a small comment placed there to remind Concordians of their mission to all students, athletes as well as non-athletes.

Farmer's Market Intervention

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

Clare Luce Booth(1903-1987) was a well known writer who wrote oft-quoted aphorisms such as, "No good deed goes unpunished." This aphorism has been one that I have spent many hours contemplating. Based on these contemplations I find myself questioning my own intentions. When I commit an act that I consider to be a good deed, am I searching for a return or some form of positive karma? Who am I trying to impress? Would I do these things if nobody would ever find out? Do I suffer from the Hero Syndrome, a phenomenon affecting people who seek recognition? Is it an altruistic deed? What am I looking for in return, or am I honestly looking to relieve the suffering of others?

The other week, I sat for a quarter of an hour thinking about this as a bicyclist's battery light drained. Should I overstep her personal space and flick the switch? Would I be crossing the line of bicycle etiquette? Or would I be saving her from a dangerous ride home in the dark? What risks are involved? Bicycle lights are one of those things that many bicyclists obsess over. They are fairly easy to steal, but are also a bit of a burden if they are to be removed every time you leave your bike. There are lighting systems that are well over a couple hundred dollars. This particular light was on the low-end, but on a dark road it could be worth it's weight in gold.

If I chose to flick the switch there would have been the possibility of a really awkward moment, just nano-seconds after I switched off her light. She would walk up and notice that I had invaded the personal space of her bike, her light would be off and any good samaritan explanation would seem unbelievable. The fact that I was uncertain of my own intentions would have produced a facial expression that would cause suspicion. What is the right thing to do? What would be my punishment for this good deed? Or would my punishment be a headline on the front page of the local paper that reported the death of a cyclist from the lack of adequate safety lights?

Regardless of what intentions I had or what my punishment would be, I chose to flick the switch and shut off the light. If not for the support of Operation Hometown Heroes, I do not believe I would have had the courage.