http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/moments-that-restored-our-faith-in-humanity-this-y
I think we all need this today.
I think we all need this today.
They are but a tiny fraction of the billion good deeds done every day.
And people ask what is wrong with our species...
I have to ask. Did people cheer the killer? Did people rally in his defence? Did people go down to that school and yell "right on!"? Did most of your friends and acquaintances node and compare which bullet, full metal jackets or dumdums would have been more efficient in ripping up those kids?
Of course not. Everyone reacted with revulsion. Rightly so. So, why is that evil man representative of humanity? Is he not just the aberration, the exception to the rule that shows that overall humanity is decent and kind and compassionate?
Look at the outpouring of sympathy. Go and watch the opening minutes of "Love actually". Humanity is defined by love, kindness, and compassion. The ones that say it is not has just put up a guard to shield from those momentary episodes when most of us behave like arse-holes to one another.
We flare, behave badly, but those flares are not indicative of whole lives. We are not defined by our low moments. We may choose to focus on the low moments and declare someone an arse and never deal with them again.
But nobody is an arse 100 per cent of the time. My bet is that most aren't that even 10 per cent of the time. Most people are pretty decent, at most times.
Just look at what happened yesterday, and tell me that the people reacting celebrate the violence - which they would if the violence, meanness and wickedness was what defined them. My bet is that you can find nobody that wasn't revolted by what happened yesterday.
It isn't people like that killer, or everyone's reaction to it, that destroy our faith in humanity. People being revolted by what happened does nothing to restore my faith in humanity. Sorry.
Then if you don't mind my asking, what does destroy faith? In your case?
I have to ask. Did people cheer the killer? ... Of course not. Everyone reacted with revulsion. Rightly so. So, why is that evil man representative of humanity? ... Look at the outpouring of sympathy. Go and watch the opening minutes of "Love actually". Humanity is defined by love, kindness, and compassion. ...
We flare, behave badly, but those flares are not indicative of whole lives. ... But nobody is an arse 100 per cent of the time. My bet is that most aren't that even 10 per cent of the time. Most people are pretty decent, at most times.
Just look at what happened yesterday, and tell me that the people reacting celebrate the violence - which they would if the violence, meanness and wickedness was what defined them. My bet is that you can find nobody that wasn't revolted by what happened yesterday.
For me, it would be working together to ban assault rifles while simultaneously campaigning for, and achieving, better access to mental health care.
ETA: Obviously, I read "destroy" as "restore."