French Fry Brother Renews Hope In China

American French Fry Brother is just one of Jason Loose’s nicknames, but it is one that many people in China and, thanks to a random passerby, the rest of the world now recognized.

Loose, 23, is from Thousand Oaks, California, and has been studying at Nanjing University for nine months, and a few months ago he did what he considered a normal act of kindness: giving a homeless woman a packet of french fries and some water. The Los Angeles Times reports that Loose stated of his sudden popularity that:

“I just gave some food that isn’t really even healthy to an old woman and talked with her for a few minutes. I don’t see much that’s newsworthy about that.”

When speaking about his reasons for stopping and helping the homeless woman out, he stated:

“There wasn’t much money in her collection bowl, and it was really hot out. I walked past her and thought that maybe she could use some food and some company.”

This simple act shot the now-dubbed “American French Fry Brother” into Chinese internet fame, because a passerby happened to see the act and photograph it, then put it on Sina Weibo, China’s micro-blogging service. HLNTV reported that the images have spurred a round of soul-searching in China, because many Chinese people believe the country’s blind pursuit of wealth has resulted in a moral vacuum.

The Examiner reports that one user, Hunlizuchiquhui, wrote on Sina Weibo that:

“It was such a heartwarming scene, but brought by a foreign young man, who offers his love, care and trust to a stranger in need. It makes me reflect on whether I could do what he does.”

One post even read that, “Chinese people, let’s all learn from this.” Loose reports that several correspondents have told him his story is so popular because of the country’s well-documented epidemic of social apathy. HLNTV reports that it was so sensational for some Chinese citizens to see an act of kindness, even if it was just giving a homeless woman food, performed by a foreigner in their country.

Whether you are from China or another country, I’m sure American French Fry Brother can be an inspiration to everyone, knowledge that a simple act of kindness can move a country.

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