The civic group, the United States of Kindness, is encouraging Americans to celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary with 250 million AOKs — acts of kindness. Its campaign is engaging with 10,000 nonprofits, companies, and media outlets, as well as with 25,000 schools that represent 10 million students — with the numbers still growing. And I’m one of this initiative’s biggest fans.
I recognize that this may sound unexpected coming from someone who commanded two wars and served as CIA director. But rest assured, this article is not an AI deepfake. It is from me, and I mean every word.
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Over the years, we’ve faced many extraordinary challenges: the Revolutionary War; the Civil War; the Great Depression; two World Wars; the Cold War; Vietnam; struggles over civil and social rights; natural disasters, pandemics and recessions; the 9/11 attacks and the post-9/11 wars. And much more.
In each case, after all was said and done, Americans found ways to come together. We rolled up our sleeves, debated fiercely, endured hardship, and ultimately moved forward, demonstrating the fortitude, determination, and sheer hard work needed to address the challenges of the day.
During many of those difficult times, one particular quality helped animate and enable our national resilience: kindness.
Kindness is rooted in understanding and compassion. It is the simple but powerful idea that we should treat others the way we would like to be treated. It begins with the belief that most people are trying to do their best, at least until proven otherwise.
I have seen kindness on display countless times, in peace and in war, in good times and in bad. Americans and our allies have often shown that, even in the toughest moments, kindness can prevail.
I know these reflections may sound unusual coming from a retired soldier. But over the decades, I have found that kindness actually works. Not every time, of course. There are, to be sure, individuals who wish us ill and do not merit kindness. In those cases, toughness and resolve are essential.
But in most situations, kindness helps build trust, foster collaboration, reduce friction and get things done. Kindness is not weakness. Properly understood, it is a source of strength.
That is why I am supporting the United States of Kindness initiative. It builds on a remarkable regional effort begun more than three decades ago in Cleveland by the Values-in-Action Foundation and its Kindland movement.
That initiative has already made a meaningful impact in Northeast Ohio and beyond, including in more than 5,000 schools, some in every state. Its partners have included the NFL Foundation, the American Red Cross, iHeart Radio, Forbes, Gallup, and many others.
Values-in-Action is now expanding its effort nationwide. As we celebrate our country’s 250th birthday, the initiative will encourage companies, educators, government officials, those in uniform, and citizens from all walks of life to make kindness a central part of how we treat one another.
And so, as the United States of Kindness challenges groups and individuals to help celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary by participating in 250 acts of kindness and sharing their stories, I am asking you to consider the power of kindness, and to help ensure that our great country remains as caring, civil and united as it can be.
Petraeus, a retired Army four-star general, is a partner at KKR, chair of the KKR Global Institute, and the Kissinger Fellow at Yale’s Jackson School of Global Affairs.