"Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness.  Every act creates a ripple with no logical end."  -- Scott Adams

Members of the circus profession, and clowns in particular, are known for their kindness.   This is particularly true following natural disasters like earthquakes. 

In 1906, two tramp clowns, Jim McIntyre and Tom Heath, produced and starred in a Broadway show titled The Ham Tree.  W.C. Fields, who performed a juggling act as a tramp clown at the time, was part of their cast.  After most of San Francisco was destroyed in 1906 by an earthquake and fire, the cast of the Ham Tree performed in an exhibition baseball game to raise money for the residents of San Francisco. 

After a devastating earthquake hit Japan in 1923, circuses in America cooperated in a fundraising campaign to aid the victims.  Donations were collected at each performance to send to Japan.

After Hurricane Katrina devastated much of the city of New Orleans, clowns banded together to create Red Nose Response, an organization dedicated to responding to natural disasters.

Another devastating earthquake and a tsunami struck Japan a month ago.  They are still experiencing strong after shocks.  While the physical destruction was limited to a portion of the country, the entire nation has been affected.  One of the results is that festivals, which normally hire clowns, have been cancelled.  I know that many of my newsletter subscribers have met Rone and Gigi, the founders and directors of Open Sesame, Japan's theatrical clown troupe.  Rone said that many of their American friends began contacting them asking how they can help.  Rone and Gigi did not want to just accept charity.  They wanted to find work that they could do.  Their solution is to create something they call Big Ears 4 Kids.  (Their most famous characters wear big ears, and many people refer to them by that nick name.)  Rone and Gigi will go into the devastated areas to provide free clown entertainment for children.  Those who have seen Rone and Gigi perform know that they have an amazing rapport with youngsters and will do a wonderful job in this effort.  They are raising funds to pay their expenses while carrying out this work.  To learn more about Big Ears 4 Kids use the link below.  Rone and Gigi are offering some thank you gifts for donations.  One of the gifts is a DVD of their 2010 theater show titled A Piece of Memory.  I have seen this show, and while it is performed in Japanese, I was able to understand it.  Ironically Rone plays a homeless person whose few possessions are almost destroyed.  She has some pictures that remind her of happy times during her former life.  Gigi plays a robber, who hides out from the police in Rone's temporary home.  They discover from Rone's pictures that they are related.  Rone convinces Gigi's character to stop running from the law.  That is the basic plot.  (The show is full of their wonderful silent comedy routines and juggling.  I know that you would enjoy it.)  Now in real life Rone and Gigi will visit people who have lost many of their reminders of their past lives and create new happy memories for them in the midst of the destruction.  Parents seeing their children laugh and have fun again will be encouraged to have new hope.  We will never know all the effects that will have for the future.  By making a donation to Rone and Gigi, you can be a small part of their efforts.

Big Ears 4 Kids

Sometimes in difficult times we don't do anything because we feel overwhelmed.  We think anything we can do will be too little.  Yet, if many people make a small contribution, the cumulative effect is great.

What small act of kindness can you show to others around you?  In stressful times, what kindness can you show others to ease their spirits?  Following a disaster, what can you do in a practical manner to show kindness to those who are suffering?