So, let’s talk violence. Read the paper? Watch the news? Facebook, Twitter, surf the ‘net? Go to church? Visit friends? Shop? Violence is out there everywhere, and you can’t miss it. There are NFL players beating up the women they “love,” their kids and each other; unarmed teens gunned down in our cities; ISIS, terrorism, school and gang shootings tearing up our neighborhoods; Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine ”“ the list is endless.
If all that seems a little remote, a little too far removed, consider the problems closer to home: We have the ever-popular home invasions, bank robberies and drugstore hold-ups courtesy of local junkies. And how about road rage, vandalism, bullying, rape, muggings and murder? Maine’s average on murders is 25 a year, going back two years.
Violence, whether physical, emotional or spiritual, rules, and the world is a sadder, scarier place because of it. Violence is “trending,” as they say these days, and it is eroding our human spirit. It robs us of inner peace, comfort and confidence. It stirs up agitation, anxiety and fear. People go on the defensive and react, often very badly, to any threat, real or perceived. Nerves are stretched taut, everyone is on edge, stressed and suffering.
How did we get to this point, and why? Pundits, analysts and talk-show hosts trot out behavioral, psychological and medical experts, most with more initials after their name than a can of alphabet soup, and they expound. They wag their fingers at families running off in too many directions, absent dads, unemployment, single moms, couples holding down two, three or even four jobs, poor communication, no communication, the economy, divorce, the drug epidemic. You name it and somewhere, someone has ventured a theory, written a best seller and made big money sharing their “wisdom” about the state of the world.
Now, I don’t claim to be an expert about anything. I only know that when I look around today, I see a lack of respect. Society does not honor the elderly, cherish children or value the weak, helpless or hurting. Too often, anyone who’s “different” because of their skin color, physical appearance, mental capability, faith, philosophy or morality, is a target, not someone to whom we should reach out and help.
It app-ears many people do not value their jobs, the work they do, or even their possessions. In today’s throwaway world, we casually toss out items, people, values and morals.
My husband talks about growing up in an area and time when neighbors stood by one another. His dad, Lou, owned a small, one-truck oil business, and was known to occasionally make a delivery, unasked, to a family troubled by illness or financial hard times. Eventually the recipient, also unasked, would show up later, precisely when Lou needed assistance with a repair or building project.
I was a city girl, surrounded by concrete and asphalt, who lived in apartments, walked to school with friends, and followed the Golden Rule. From my parents’ examples, I learned to watch out for my friends, care about my neighbors and judge no one.
Our lives were not perfect or easy. Growing up, we witnessed serious family illnesses, knew our parents had financial worries and landed jobs at early ages so we could contribute, because that was what you did. We loved one another and supported each other, our friends, neighbors and even strangers.
Some people call me naïve because I believe in, and expect to see, the goodness inherent in everyone. I get stung, but I am willing to bet, averaged over my lifetime, the good far outweighs the bad. I credit my parents and my faith for keeping my attitude optimistic and hopeful, despite the muck in which we seem to be mired.
When I start feeling discouraged and tempted to give up, to give in to hopelessness, I recall author Edmund Burke’s words, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” So I never sit around doing nothing; don’t you either.
— Donna Landry is the legal/classified advertising specialist in the Journal Tribune administrative office.
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