I have
been guilty of a grievous error. I have dehumanized the individual by affixing
a label on their soul. With an apt description I do not have to view them as an
equal and can deprive them of their rights. Through these labels I have freed
myself from all concern for this individual and if the description I give them
puts them in the category of enemy then I do not have to give ear to their
words. I have not considered if they were hungry, I did not consider if they
were thirsty, I did not consider if they were sick, I did not consider if they
were in prison. I only considered if they were right or wrong, or more
accurately if they agreed with me.
No more.
I will no longer use words like
quasi-fascist, bigot, racist, prejudice, homophobic, right-wing extremist,
conservative, oppressive, totalitarian, republican, against a woman’s right to
choose, or anti-immigration to disrespect and dismiss a fellow human
being. I will esteem others as better than myself, wiser, as I serve at their
tables and gird myself to wash their feet. Each man will be a brother, each
woman a sister, each person a friend; each a human regardless of race, creed,
religion, country of origin, sexual orientation, gender or politics. They will
be viewed as an individual with hopes, dreams, concerns and a desire to love
and be loved; worthy of affection with thoughts and needs that are as
legitimate as any other person. – Laws should keep a person from infringing
upon or denying another person’s civil liberties not enacted and enforced to
infringe upon and deny a person their civil liberties.
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