It was a simple act of kindness, one that is extended routinely and without a second thought across this great country and around the world.

But two things made this one different — and profound: When a black police officer went to the aid of an elderly man during a KKK rally at the South Carolina Statehouse on July 18, it was captured by a camera for all the world to see and then memorialized when it went viral on social media.

We hope you have seen it, but if you haven’t, then you should search the Internet to find it. We hope it causes everyone to pause for some self-reflection, because on this front, we could all do better.

The officer, Leroy Smith, runs the Department of Public Safety of South Carolina. When the photo went viral and the media sought out a black man who would provide comfort to a stranger who likely believes blacks are intellectually inferior, Smith deflected any credit. In fact, he beat back interview requests until it became easier to entertain them.

When he did answer questions, he said simply: “I saw a man who needed some help, and I was going to help him.”

Smith didn’t hesitate even though the man was at a KKK rally during which “white power” was being shouted, and was wearing a T-shirt that depicted a swastika, a hijacked symbol that is now equated with white supremacy. Smith saw beyond that symbol of hate, ignored that the rally was put together by the North Carolina-based Loyal White Knights of the KKK, and extended an upward palm.

Smith actually helped two white demonstrators who were under duress on that Saturday when temperatures reached 100 degrees, raising doubts about the intellectual capacity of those at the rally. Maybe they can’t read a weather forecast.

The first white demonstrator was able to walk the steps with help and enter the air-conditioned Statehouse; the second one was in danger of collapse.

“He was struggling, fatigued, appeared to be lethargic. I knew there was no way he could make it up the steps on his own,” Smith said. So Smith put his right hand on the man’s arm, his left arm around his body and helped him climb the steps.

“He told me he wasn’t from around here. I told him it gets hot in South Carolina,” Smith said.

Smith didn’t get the man’s name — and they had no extended conversation.

The man who needed the help had not come forward when The Associated Press last week wrote a story on the events of that day. He should be embarrassed to do so, but we suspect he lacks that capacity.

A reporter contacted the Detroit-based National Socialist Movement, which brought about 50 people to South Carolina for the protest, but was told by a spokesman that no names would be provided. The spokesman, according to an AP report, then became angry, made offensive comments to the reporter and hung up when asked about the photo.

Given what we know now about the actions of the officer and those of the organization that sponsored the rally, we believe it’s fair to label one as superior. That would be the black police officer from South Carolina who showed us the best of humankind when confronted with the worst of humankind.

How much better the world would be if there were more of us like Leroy Smith.