|
ANOTHER You can hate that man because he's black, or that one for being gay. You can imagine revulsion or contempt for any reason due to difference. Whether it's politics, religion, or any other difference in personal philosophy, comportment or appearance, that difference can be abhored. That person can also freely reject your own such differences, for it's unlikely that you will be his clone, either. To illustrate the childish myopia this attitude reveals, however, and the futility of such blanket denial, consider the following hypothesis: if you and that hated other might one day find yourselves the only two on earth ... no differences would matter. In time, each would realize the need for that other. For, who would care for you when sick or injured -- and wouldn't you return that kindness in the opposite case? Not least is the possibility that keeping that person alive might one day result in a return of that favor. Surely neither would choose to let the other suffer or perish, for no one could prefer eternal solitude. And, when a project required another's hands -- the particular tint of those hands would be completely meaningless in regard to the project, for only the doing is important and any hands will do. In the dark of night, imagined goblins keep their distance and icy shards of cold will pierce less often ... because that other's there ... and color is not clear at night. Nor will other differences count for much when communication demands an audience, a person, any person... a willing ear to hear and understand, to identify with or commiserate ... to offer warmth and reflection common only to that welcome soul ... another human being. For, animals aren't up to it ... trees and rocks are deaf. Nothing else can fit the need or ever approximate the true worth and utter necessity of another human being. |