环球英语 — 134：Free Hugs
Voice 1
Thank you for joining us for today’s Spotlight program. I’m Ryan Geertsma.
Voice 2
And I’m Liz Waid.
Voice 1
A man stands in a busy shopping centre. People walk by him quickly. There are all kinds of people: rich, poor, young, and old. They are men, women, and children. The man is holding a large sign. The sign has two words on each side. Each side of the sign says “Free Hugs.”
Voice 2
Some people walking by look at the man strangely. Some people laugh or point at him. Some shake their heads or look away. Finally, an old woman walks toward the man. She reaches her arms toward him. He reaches his arms toward her. They put their arms around each other and hug. After a short time they let go. The woman smiles as she walks away. The man continues to hold his sign - waiting for another person to accept a free hug.
Voice 1
This is a common situation every Thursday at Pitt Street Mall in Sydney Australia. The man is called Juan Mann. Juan Mann is not his real name. He uses a false name because he does not want to become popular because of his name. Instead, he wants his actions, hugs, to become popular.
Voice 2
Every Thursday from noon until five o’clock [5:00] Juan holds his “Free Hugs” sign. And he offers to give hugs to people. Recently, the ‘Free Hugs Campaign,’ or movement, has become popular all around the world. Today’s Spotlight is on Juan Mann and his ‘Free Hugs Campaign.’
Voice 1
The ‘Free Hugs Campaign’ began in 2004. Juan tells how the idea of giving away free hugs came to him:
Voice 3
“I came back from London in January 2004 and my family and friends were spread out across the world. I was the only person I knew and I was lonely. My parents had divorced, I had broken up with my fiancée and my grandmother was sick and I needed to feel happy ... I wanted someone out there to be happy to see me, to smile at me, to hug me.
I went out to a party one night and a completely random person came up to me and gave me a hug. I felt like a king! It was the greatest thing that ever happened. Six months later, on June thirty [30], in Pitt Street Mall, I decided to give away free hugs.”
Voice 1
Juan’s simple idea began slowly.
Voice 3
“It was kind of frightening walking up to a stranger since people did not know me. I did not want to trouble anyone, so that is why I held up a sign. It said “FREE HUGS.” It was the most frightening thing I had ever done. The first day I stood for fifteen [15] minutes before anyone came near me and I felt like the biggest fool on earth ... For fifteen minutes people just looked right through me.”
Voice 1
But finally, someone accepted Juan’s offer for a free hug.
Voice 3
“The first person who stopped tapped me on the shoulder and told me how her dog had just died that morning. How that morning had been the one year anniversary of her only daughter dying in a car accident. How what she needed now, when she felt most alone in the world, was a hug... We put our arms around each other and when we parted, she was smiling.”
Voice 1
Juan believes that what he is doing is very important. And his simple hugs have influenced many people. Recently, Juan has become very famous for his ‘Free Hug Campaign.’
Voice 2
In 2006, Juan’s grandmother died. It was a difficult time for him. To cheer him up, Shimon, Juan’s friend, made a short video for Juan. The video included moving pictures of Juan standing in Pitt Street Mall holding his sign. It showed him hugging people. The video shows other people also offering more free hugs. And it is clear that the people receiving hugs are very happy.
Voice 1
Shimon put the video on the internet. There, millions of people watched it! The video encouraged and inspired many people. Many people made comments about it. Here are a few of the things people said.
Voice 4
“Just imagine if we could one day gather all the major religious figures and have them just give each other hugs. Think of the impact world-wide ... Peace!”
Voice 5
“I am Brazilian and I am completely inspired after watching this video. I almost cried. I want to start something like Free Hugs in my country too! It would be incredible if people all over the world started to do it as well. We are always talking about peace and so on, but we do little. This is the proof that we all can do something to make this world a better place to live.”
Voice 6
“If only more of us would open our arms to the needy, the forgotten, the sad, the lonely, to everybody... Maybe our world would be a better place.”
Voice 7
“... Often times we forget how something so simple as a hug can make a huge impact in this world . . .”
Voice 8
“More hugs, more love, more peace!”
Voice 2
The video influenced other people to copy Juan’s ‘Free Hug Campaign.’ These people have also put videos on the internet - people from Hong Kong, Poland, Korea, Canada, the United States, Brazil, China and many more places. One man even offered free hugs to people in the city of Tel Aviv.
Voice 1
Juan Mann began giving away hugs to encourage people and make them happy. The hugs he gives are innocent. He does not hug people to gain popularity. He does not try to get people’s names or telephone numbers. He does not use free hugs to try and date women. He does not want anything in return. He simply wants to spread kindness and love. He gives the hugs as a free gift of love.
Voice 2
Many Christians believe that what Juan is doing is great. Showing care and concern for people is important for Christians. The Bible tells about how Jesus cared for people who were hungry. He healed sick people. And he served others. Jesus showed people kindness and mercy even though he is the powerful creator and ruler of the whole universe! Christians believe that it is important to follow Jesus’ example. And giving hugs is one way to make people around us feel better or happier. Spreading this kind of love is a good goal. Juan agrees:
Voice 3
“I hope this spreads around the world. I hope everyone, someone, somewhere, takes a sign and makes it themselves and goes out and hugs somebody.”
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