The following pictures and text originated in a recent post at BuzzFeed.  The Internet site bills itself as “The hottest, most social content on the web,” and were sent to the Mountain News by one of our readers.  They are wonderful, and brought tears to my eyes.

 They are part of a feature at BuzzFeed titled: “21 Pictures that Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity,” and was composed by a BuzzFeed staffer, Jack Shepherd.  http://www.buzzfeed.com/

 Besides being top-notch photojournalists with a sharp eye for the human condition, I hope BuzzFeed is also generous because even though I asked them for permission to re-publish their material here I have not heard back.  Since it is always easier to ask for forgiveness than permission, and trusting in the belief that our intention to inspire and uplift our readership is self-evident, I believe the Mountain News will have their permission eventually:

 So, here is the BuzzFeed post that made me weep, and I hope it will touch your heart as well. –Bruce A. Smith, the Mountain News-WA.

21 Pictures That Will Restore Your Faith In Humanity

People aren’t always awful. Sometimes, they’re maybe even just a little bit wonderful.  Here are 21 pictures to remind you of that fact.

 Jack Shepherd BuzzFeed Staff

 1.  This picture of Chicago Christians who showed up at a gay pride parade to apologize for homophobia in the Church.

 … and the reaction from the parade.

 2.  This story about Japanese senior citizens who volunteered to tackle the nuclear crisis at Fukushima power station so that young people wouldn’t have to subject themselves to radiation.

From a story by reporter Roland Buerk, in the BBC.

 3.  A picture of two Norwegian guys rescuing a sheep from the ocean.

 4.  A sign at an awesome bookshop.

 5.  A poll about what Snooki should name her child.

 6.  A runner named Meghan, from Ohio

17-year-old Meghan Vogel was in last place in the 3,200-meter run when she caught up to competitor Arden McMath, whose body was giving out. Instead of running past her to avoid the last-place finish, Vogel put McMath’s arm around her shoulders, carried her 30 meters, and then pushed her over the finish line before crossing it.

 7.  An exchange between a 3-year-old girl, named Lily, and a shopping center.

And the reply from the customer relations manager at the Sainsbury’s grocery store. 

8.  A note that was handed to a waiter by an elderly lady in his restaurant, along with a $20 bill.

 9.  A sign at an awesome Subway restaurant.

 10.  A picture of a villager carrying stranded kittens to dry land during floods in Cuttack City, India.

 Close-up:

11.  A sign at an awesome drycleaner’s.

 Note:  Elite Cleaners in Minneapolis helped over 2,000 unemployed workers that couldn’t afford dry cleaning.  Owner Don Chapman estimated that it cost his company $32,000 dollars.

 12.  A photograph of a man giving his shoes to a homeless girl in Rio de Janeiro.

 13.  A picture of a firefighter administering oxygen to a cat rescued from a house fire.

 14.  And these other pix of firefighters.

 15.  An interaction between a Guatemalan girl and a tourist she just met.

 16.  A gesture from a neighbor at Ramadan

 17.  A Brazilian general on his birthday

 18.  A dog rescue in Melbourne, Australia

 Sue Drummond was walking her beloved Shih Tzu, Bibi, on a pier in Melbourne, when a fierce gust of wind picked him up and hurled him into the rough waters of the bay.  A passerby, Raden Soemawinata, who happened to be on the pier that day to scatter his grandmother’s ashes, wasted no time in stripping down and diving into the bay to rescue the animal.

The rescue:

 19.  Cool  note received by a young family at dinner

 20.  Rescuing a dog from a steep-walled irrigation canal

 21.  Two best friends:

 Note:  According to BuzzFeed, Jack Shepherd lives in Brooklyn and is 33.  Thanks, Jack, for some great work here. – BAS.

Here’s Jack’s picture, too: