Forward. This is something we talk about doing. Buying a coffee for the next person in line or paying the bridge toll for the car behind you all seems to be really kind and, truth be told, feels like it contributes to my “good” karma.

But what about when some idiot cuts you off in traffic, or some stranger takes advantage of you, or treats you badly? What do you do? Do you pay that bad behavior forward? Do you then use that as an excuse to treat every stranger or homeless person or ___________(fill in the blank) badly yourself?

Making the “other” into a demon to be punished is a key strategy in divisiveness. Doing that hurts me as much as it will ever hurt them; that loss of humanity pulls and tugs at the fabric of my being. It is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.

People will do horrible things of that there is no doubt. But just because one person does horrible things does not condemn all people to the dustbin. One person is not the sum of humanity.

Nor can you condemn every person because of the action of one. I am the “other”. I have seen the enemy and he is me.

John Mariotti
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
www.crossfitodyssey.com
775-338-2412