Love Your Enemies
@sabtraversa (13096)
Italy
May 5, 2024 12:46pm CST
Over a week ago, a very cruel act seems to have occurred in the area where I live.
I'm trying my best to not share any detail, but I can say many people have shown deep outrage, and a burning desire for revenge against the perpetrator (who hasn't been found yet).
Rightfully, to some extent.
It's totally fair to want justice, yet a civilized society should prioritize common sense over blind rage.
Treating violence with violence won't make things any better in the long run; in fact, you let evil win when you surrender to anger.
You turn into the monster you wanted to defeat, as if that monster managed to bite and poison you.
I think the ultimate goal should be to understand what led to this monstrosity, as only knowledge and awareness can prevent this from happening again.
I accept punishment as a deterrent as well as an opportunity for the perpetrator to realize what they did wrong and repent. Once you cross that line, once you come up with ways to torture the sadist, you've become a sadist yourself.
I don't judge emotions, nobody should do so.
I won't even judge words, I'm not that stupid to believe I have such authority.
Yet, I'm stupid enough to believe I can be a mirror, able to give an impartial view on the matter.
Not necessarily a correct one, but one that is free from personal interest.
At last, I agree with mom the one who committed this act is likely to be enjoying all the hate they're getting from the outraged crowd.
That's how some twisted minds work.
Beware of the trap, don't feed the trolls etc.
Please.
That said...
Love is when you wish someone the best. It doesn't mean you have to tolerate their behavior, ignore their faults or erase all their debts for no reason.
It means you feel no hatred or resentment towards them, but a genuine wish for toxic thoughts to leave their minds and toxic emotions to leave their hearts.
You wish for them to heal while you choose to not get sick. It sounds reasonable, doesn't it?
This is how you love your enemies... imho.
(Matthew 5:43-48)
Image from Pixabay
13 people like this
14 responses
@sabtraversa (13096)
• Italy
5 May
@TheHorse Yes, it can be difficult but it's worth trying. A positive attitude always pays off.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (207500)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 May
@sabtraversa I am generally pretty forgiving.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (207500)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 May
@sabtraversa But I don't forget. Trust is an important thing. As @Vandana7 would be quick to point out, I am sometimes too trusting.
2 people like this
@sabtraversa (13096)
• Italy
5 May
@snowy22315 Some acts are straight unacceptable, but it helps to understand where they come from. We can't undo what was done but we can still look for ways to not let it happen again. That's the most logical thing to do, but we're emotional beings too and I totally get it. 
2 people like this
@Orson_Kart (6165)
• United Kingdom
6 May
Are you talking about people acting as vigilantes? If so, I don’t condone that. Often, if the crime involves children, the emotions of those involved can run high, but it’s always best to leave it to the authorities to deal with. As for loving the perpetrators? Some people aren’t able to be ‘fixed’. Psychopaths are one such type. They can’t be loved.
1 person likes this
@Orson_Kart (6165)
• United Kingdom
6 May
@sabtraversa I’d be interested to know how you would prevent people being psychopaths. They are well down the route of being a serial killer before getting ‘found out’. You’d have to make an intervention at a very young age, or possibly before they were born. “Experts” in this field are great at looking back over the lives of people like Ted Bundy, and pointing out the signs. Too late though.
1 person likes this
@sabtraversa (13096)
• Italy
6 May
@Orson_Kart One symptom that got stuck in my mind is when a child pees in bed at an inappropriate age, but there are many more. It could lead to many false negatives, but prevention works like that. People are more likely to mind their own business or ignore blatant red flags, when signs are more subtle it's almost certain nothing will be done. Social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists are also too expensive to bother trying. 
1 person likes this
@sabtraversa (13096)
• Italy
6 May
@Orson_Kart Yes, private justice, so to speak.
True, some people would have to be detained for the rest of their lives, but I have a hard time believing some are just born that way, so studying their history as well as their genetics and brain structure can be beneficial to the collective. Yeah, I did say genetics but I mean some people are more prone to develop some traits, it can still be avoided somehow, with the right "tools".
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86976)
• United States
9 May
I cant bear that saying..it is madness to love my enemies. I would rather smite them.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86976)
• United States
9 May
@sabtraversa No we must destroy the root
1 person likes this
@sabtraversa (13096)
• Italy
9 May
@RebeccasFarm That's understandable though. Maybe being smitten helps them somehow, I wouldn't give for granted that couldn't be a strange act of love.
Well, I'm just concerned it'd lead to a short-term relief, it wouldn't solve the problem at its root.
Well, I'm just concerned it'd lead to a short-term relief, it wouldn't solve the problem at its root.1 person likes this
@sabtraversa (13096)
• Italy
5 May
@jstory07 Exactly, it's possible to have both and sometimes it is much needed. 
1 person likes this
@sabtraversa (13096)
• Italy
13 May
@dya80dya Thanks, that's correct. I think it's easier to forgive others once you mastered how to forgive yourself. But it's very difficult to forgive yourself when others don't forgive you. It's a vicious cycle.
1 person likes this
@dya80dya (34172)
•
14 May
@sabtraversa It's very true. We have to forgive ourselves too. And if others won't forgive us we can't forgive ourselves. We usually aren't very kind to ourselves. We have to learn how to forgive ourselves.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159936)
• Boise, Idaho
5 May
They probably did it partially for the attention it would bring. These types don't care about the pain they inflict just the attention it will garner. I am a vengeful person. Especially if someone does something to my children. There are too many twisted types out there nowadays. It's scary.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159936)
• Boise, Idaho
6 May
@sabtraversa ........I can imagine what transpired. I am researching serial killers and read their awful stories quite a bit. I can imagine what happened. Thrill kills and mass attacks are horrible.
1 person likes this
@sabtraversa (13096)
• Italy
6 May
@celticeagle Agreed, I don't want to reveal more details but the monster there wanted to make sure everyone knew, they didn't attempt to cover their act but almost went out of their way to let everyone see what they did.
1 person likes this
@xstitcher (30554)
• Petaluma, California
9 May
Jesus was right when He said to love your enemies. Hating and revenge does nothing but hurt you.
1 person likes this
@sabtraversa (13096)
• Italy
9 May
@xstitcher Agreed. Walking with a light heart, free of hate, is easier said than done but it's truly the best option, therefore what we should all aim for.
@LeaPea2417 (36580)
• Toccoa, Georgia
5 May
I agree, but some do deserve punishment like jail time.
1 person likes this
@sabtraversa (13096)
• Italy
6 May
@LeaPea2417 I think jail time could be more of a blessing than a punishment for felons, as long as it is a safe place where they eventually learn there's more to life than crime.
Putting people behind bars could come from genuine care more than a mere need for revenge. Unfortunately the system isn't always efficient, but I'm glad to hear success stories from time to time. 
1 person likes this
@sabtraversa (13096)
• Italy
13 May
@sathviksouvik That's great, hate only causes stress and other bad stuff.
@aninditasen (15804)
• Raurkela, India
6 May
I don't believe in being tolerant to my enemies. We have to be firm and strike back sometimes to prevent them from harming us.
1 person likes this
@sabtraversa (13096)
• Italy
6 May
@aninditasen I think you can't really love others if you can't love yourself first. Unconditional love should not be confused with dependent personality disorder or other unhealthy attachments. So yes, loving your enemies doesn't mean hating yourself, you'd still prioritize your wellbeing over theirs.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (15804)
• Raurkela, India
7 May
@sabtraversa That's true. We have to prioritize our well-being first and accordingly handle our enemies.
1 person likes this
@sabtraversa (13096)
• Italy
9 May
@grenery8 Yeah, I mean, it's easy to judge others when they do wrong but the tables can always turn.
Yeah, I mean, it's easy to judge others when they do wrong but the tables can always turn.1 person likes this
@grenery8 (3077)
• Croatia (Hrvatska)
11 May
@sabtraversa absolutely. i always remember saying don't do others that you don't want others doing it to you,something like that
1 person likes this
