Kindness shouldn't be optional

A short while ago, I got into a not-so-pleasant conversation with a family member about the way the United States government is treating children. Specifically children who come here alone to seek asylum, or who are separated from their parents at the border.

I was referring to well-documented subhuman detention conditions and the fact that many children are forced to represent themselves in court before they can even sign their names. The member of my family was referring to debunked myths about an invasion of rapists and thieves.

Let’s just say it didn’t end well.

On the upside, it made me think about our capacity for empathy and kindness, and how we often forget to exercise either or both.

And thus Kær kindness t-shirts were born: a manner to literally wear our commitment to kindness.

I’m an eternal optimist, but I’m also a realist: I don’t think these t-shirts are going to have any impact on those who believe immigrants automatically are criminals or that asylum seekers automatically lie.

However, we are giving away all profits from the sales of these shirts to the non-governmental organization Kids In Need of Defense, so they can provide even more children with the legal aid they need.

It’s not a lot.

But it’s a start.