by Tatjana Horton, Hamilton
Some people tend to live life in a frenzy of emotion. They think by voicing their strong opinion, usually with condescending words, they are taking a stand for what is right and doing something honorable. Even when one issue has passed, there is always another to jump on as is evidenced by the opinion page in the paper. I wonder, do these people think they are making a difference in society?
Are people really motivated by sarcasm and nastiness? Some issues are valuable to our faith and families and need to be addressed but is there a better way to help solve the problems than spouting out anger? Many people have lost the ability to reason and debate without losing their cool. They have also lost any sense of respect for our government and those in leadership. There have been great men (Abraham Lincoln for one, known for his humility and compassion on the enslaved as well the soldiers and even his opponents), who have changed the course of a nation for the better. These men have not resorted to anger and vile words, but rather kindness and gentleness.
Often perceived as a weakness, gentleness is a profound strength that requires self-control and courage. Gentleness promotes nonviolent conflict resolution resulting in inspiring acts of kindness and building trust and security within a culture. It has the power to unite people regardless of their political beliefs.
It calms fears and provides a sense of security and peace. If we want change in the world, we need to work on being gentle people. We need to consider others better than ourselves and their opinions as valuable as the ones we hold. We need to listen. Living in a frenzy of anger over political issues or leaders (yes, even non gentle leaders), isn’t a catalyst for change but rather just a puff of smoke. Kindness and Gentleness. These are the traits of mature, courageous people and game changers for our world.