The challenge to identify 'the bad guys'

When children go to bed at night, they often fear the "wild things" that may come out of their closet. We are all neurologically wired for fear. Good thing we are, or we may not have survived as a species. But, this evolutionary advantage is no longer working for us.

We are all wired to fear people different from us. The major differences are based on race, religion, political beliefs, geographical location, and so on. There are also a multitude of other differences. So, who are the bad guys? Can we identify them as a group?

That would make it simple and keep up from having to think.

What seems clear to me is the following: Most Muslims are good people, but some are very bad. Most Christians are good people, but some are very bad. Most blacks are good people, but some are very bad. Most white people are very good people, but some are very bad. Most cops are good people, but some are very bad. I could go on and on.

Get the point?

So, where then do we find the bad guys? I think we should fear the people who think in terms of categorizing people as all bad or all good based on what group they belong to. It follows that the most dangerous people on the planet are those who deny others because of their group.

When you stand up for yourself, you stand up with all the good people in the world, and against all the bad guys who would like you to join them in their hate for a different group.

Martin Luther King said it is all about the content of one's character. I think he nailed it. Be brave. Be yourself.

Allan Botkin

Libertyville