Society should be judged on how it deals with and treats its neediest and its most repugnant. The unfortunate, infirm, or helpless should be cared for with compassion and graciousness. The wanton, malicious, and mean should be met with firmness, corrective action, and when necessary punishment without vengeance or lingering ill repute.
Today our great nation is failing to live up to its potential and reneging on its promise to all.
The zealous and self-proclaimed virtuous have sullied their hearts with misapplied righteousness. And in so doing have corrupted the concept of do unto others as you’d have them do unto you. Condemnation, anger, and providence inspired morality wielded as a weapon will never sway the hearts and minds of your opposition. Nor should it.
Humanists, atheists, scientists, have also abdicated their responsibilities. To illuminate and educate. To explore and explain the unknown or misunderstood. The quest for knowledge and desire to better the human condition has been slowly polluted by patents, profits, and paucity of vision. Yes, science progresses, but it follows the course of its benefactors. Sadly today, that far to often is a for profit corporation where discovery is deemed beneficial or successful only on a quarterly basis. Its accumulated knowledge purloined from the people. Would short stalk wheat be shared unfettered with the world today?
It’s not a collapse into depravity but a slow societal decline. The buttresses of ignorance and intolerance cloud the minds on each side. It’s not necessary for someone to lose for the other side to win. Compromise is not a failure. It’s not an evil concept. It’s how we all get through our days – it’s why we hold the elevator door open.
Most individuals are good. We simply want to live our lives, love and feed our families, and to feel safe. But the concept “united we stand” has been disfigured into “do it our way or else.” The ideal of the common good usurped by a one sided morality. Where discussion, reason, and negotiation are foreign concepts if not treasonous acts. Sadly, the outcome is everyone loses. Making combatants more resolute to fight harder, to not give ground, to right a wrong that need never existed.
Collectively we’ve forgotten how to be kind. How to forgive. How to love thy neighbor even if they’re not exactly like us. How to live and let live. It’s a universal truth, we all simply want to live our lives. And we generally do – until someone starts telling us we’re doing it wrong.
