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Its What I Do . . . Not What I "Am!"

© Harvey D. Grund

If we define violence in its broadest terms (which I'm sure you've noticed that I tend to do) we can categorize discrimination as one of the most subtle (usually) forms of violence. Discrimination is one of the things that bothers me most, not strictly because of the mental, emotional and sometimes physical harm it can do but because its very seldom based on a one-on-one relationship.

If we meet (you and I) and, for what ever reason, you decide that you despise me, want nothing further to do with me and then discriminate against me -- me personally -- in business or social situations, that's OK!! Once you know me, you have every right not to like me, not to tolerate me or even to hate me. But if you also discriminate against my brother or mother or child or friends, because of your feelings for me, that's NOT RIGHT -- worse that that, its mindless, illogical -- and puts you on the same level as a feral animal.

What brought this all to my mind on this first week of the new year is Humanism in 2002, the current feature article from another Suite101 topic page: Humanism, a topic page I subscribe to, about a philosophy that I concur with. If you're not sure what a Humanist is, feel free to go there and learn. One of the things you will learn is that I am what is commonly (if not completely accurately) referred to as an atheist. However you color it, whatever name you put to it, I do not believe in the Christian, Moslem, Hindu, Jewish, Mormon or any other established religion's God -- I have my own independently developed concept of God.

Back to the point of this article: some of you, because of my last sentence, will automatically dislike me -- perhaps hate me, but if you do, please consider this: you don't really know me! You have no personal knowledge of any good or evil things I have done in my life; I have made a statement that indicates some things I do not believe in and I have put a label on myself but I have not directly indicated what I DO believe or (except through my previous articles) how I believe people should behave toward each other. With incomplete information like that, I think I'm on solid ground when I say: you have no logical justification to hate what I AM -- you can only, justly, hate what I do. The same principle should apply to everyone else in your life as well as those who cross your path in life. That next person you meet, the one who fits one of the negative stereotypes you may carry around with you, may be the nicest, most gentle, most interesting person you will ever have a chance to meet -- but only IF you take advantage of the opportunity!