I got an e-mail today from the Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs at my favorite Big Ten university proclaiming the month of March a "Month of Kindness" with the tag line, "Be Kind and Pass it On." The banners are already up around campus.
But what exactly is kindness? According to the Associate Vice Provost:
The goal of this month is to unite the campus by encouraging acts of kindness that create an environment filled with goodwill, tolerance, pluralism and openness.
I'm not sure how we are supposed to treat one another the rest of the year, but themed bracelets will be available this month for $1 each at all events to remind us to be kind. Such events include a weeklong "Stop the Hate" campaign and, as is befitting of all such events, a Kindness Protest is scheduled, which to me sounds a bit, well, unkind. It all wraps up with a "Bridge Sleepover" to raise awareness for homelessness. And no, I am not making this up.
I suppose I should laud the sentiment, as vague and nebulous as it may be. What a strange turn the quest for the true, good and beautiful has taken.