On Canadian Thanksgiving Day, 22-year-old student Godfrey Cuotto gives us all something for which to be thankful: the kind of encouragement that comes from knowing there is still good out there in a tumultuous, often hostile world.
Living in a world heavily influenced by a pop-culture going haywire, 22-year-old students are sometimes self-centered and even imperviously unaffected by the shaky plight of those feeling more vulnerable in the rush of everyday life.
Yet, on a busy bus with everyone in a hurry to reach their destination, young Godfrey was there for someone more vulnerable when a stranger with special needs reached out to him.
In need of reassurance, a special needs man, who is deaf and suffers from cerebral palsy, later identified as ‘Robert’ by his relatives, is said to have needed comforting feeling overwhelmed on a busy bus in Hamilton, Ontario.
Someone who took a photo of the touching moment downloaded it on Facebook and the story of Godfrey and Robert went viral.
The photo on the Facebook page called Only In Hamilton has been described by many as ‘beautiful’ and ‘perfect’
“The caption that accompanied the photo read: 'I didn't know if u can post this but I would liking [sic] to say thank you to the guy who was seating beside a special needs gentleman. (DailyMail, Oct. 12, 2015)
'He allowed him to hold his hand and find comfort well in a packed bus.. It make [sic] my day when I see stuff like that.'
“Mr Cuotto, a student at McMaster University in Hamilton, said he was on his way home on a crowded bus when Robert reached out to him for comfort, initially requesting a handshake.
“Having initially thought he was the subject of some kind of prank, Mr Cuotto soon realized his fellow passenger was merely looking for comfort.
'He kept holding my hand,' Mr Cuotto told the Huffington Post Canada.
'Sometimes you just have to be selfless and put someone else's needs above yours.'
“As well as holding his hand, the student allowed Robert to hug him and lean against him on the journey.
“The young student told the publication that he later received a message on Facebook from Robert's family who praised his efforts for comforting their uncle.
“The photo has garnered nearly 45,000 likes with more than 10,000 shares on Facebook and a significant amount of positive feedback.
Stephen Snow has even suggested that Mr Cuotto should consider a career in politics
Philip Mac said: 'The world needs more people like you!'
Melissa Mustapha posted: 'That's beautiful really put a smile on my face.’
Jennifer McCreary wrote: 'Our Purpose: to Help each other. Peace and love.'
And Jamie Shaffer said: 'Despite all the negativity in the world, people are still amazing.'
One man even suggested Mr Cuotto should consider a career in politics.
'Godfrey Cuotto should consider a career in politics! His mother should be his chief of staff! What's more impressive than his act of kindness...his confidence at age 22...how he shrugs off the glory coming his way! Awesome man and a good reminder for the rest of us!,' Stephen Snow wrote.
The student told the Kiss 92.5 radio station said that his act of kindness stemmed from the way he'd been brought up, saying of his mother: 'I was raised by a queen.'
So many of us are left thankful that there are 22-year-old students out there with the kind of attitude that makes them put meaning to the belief that: 'Sometimes you just have to be selfless and put someone else's needs above yours.'
God bless Godfrey Cuotto. God bless his “raised-by-a-queen” described Mother.
Judi McLeod——Bio and Archives
-- Judi McLeod, Founder, Owner and Editor of Canada Free Press, is an award-winning journalist with more than 30 years’ experience in the print and online media. A former Toronto Sun columnist, she also worked for the Kingston Whig Standard. Her work has appeared throughout the ‘Net, including on Rush Limbaugh and Fox News.
On Canadian Thanksgiving Day, 22-year-old student Godfrey Cuotto gives us all something for which to be thankful: the kind of encouragement that comes from knowing there is still good out there in a tumultuous, often hostile world.
Living in a world heavily influenced by a pop-culture going haywire, 22-year-old students are sometimes self-centered and even imperviously unaffected by the shaky plight of those feeling more vulnerable in the rush of everyday life.
Yet, on a busy bus with everyone in a hurry to reach their destination, young Godfrey was there for someone more vulnerable when a stranger with special needs reached out to him.
