Fine example

His Majesty King Abdullah gave a fine example of how Jordanians can volunteer to help our fellow citizens: he donated a unit of blood at Al Hussein Medical City.

“There are many ways to volunteer and help others in Jordan. I just visited the Blood Bank at the Hussein Medical City and donated a unit,” said the King on a Royal Palace Twitter.

Once again, the Monarch leads by example.

Blood donation is one of the most precious and meaningful voluntary acts a citizen can perform, benefiting many in need.

US president John Kennedy’s words, “… ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country,” resonate here, making one think that Jordanians might wish to take a break from complaining about what the government is doing, or not doing, for them and find ways to improve their lives and those of their fellow citizens.

There are countless ways to do voluntary work that can, by definition, help the country and its people, including picking up trash from sidewalks, informing authorities about wasted water or water theft, passing on information to the traffic police about traffic violations, complaining to the right authorities about corruption, in all its forms.

Above all, perhaps, citizens should act in a way that improves the democratic process, and that starts, simply, with obeying the rule of law and showing respect for fellow human beings, for their rights, and with being careful not to discriminate, on any ground.

Developing the culture of organ donation, contributing to the health costs of the needy, financially assisting the poor — to put a roof over their heads and a hot meal on their table — visiting the rural areas of the country to see how the more disadvantaged Jordanians live are both great volunteering acts and educational tools.

But for this to happen, there is need of an ethos of voluntary work, and there, schools and the media have a great role to play.

The King has, once again, showed the way. Citizens should learn to follow.