Courtesy or Business

"Kindness is My Business", it said on the hot pink tee worn by a young Indian member of the Suntec Fountain Terrace food court's cleaning team. Two Caucasians were eating Boon Tong Kee chicken at the table next to mine, and they had just emptied the plates of chicken and veg onto their rice, leaving the empty plates and the trays beside them. Young Indian guy happily came along, placed those empty plates on the trays, and cleared them.

"THANK YOU! for clearing your table and returning your tray after you meal." says the free packets of tissues being distributed for this particular courtesy campaign. Praytell, how on earth are they supposed to return their trays when they've already been cleared? Those guys were still eating, and after they're done they would little choice but to leave their plates, bowls and cutlery behind.

Maybe the Indian cleaner was being smart. If everybody started returning their trays to collection points, the food court's management will see no point in hiring so many cleaners. He'll probably lose his job. Or maybe not him, but some handicapped or elderly cleaner. Our lack of courtesy is the only reason why he has a job. So yes, Kindness, IS his business.