“What if…” I thought at 3:26 and half am, “What if, there were laws that said we must do helpful things. We go part of the way with this concept when we must stop and assist at an accident. But what if we had a law that said we must say sorry when we got it wrong. A law that said we must help those who are less fortunate or those who come looking to us for a fresh start in life. What then? Well our responsibilities would then take precedence over our rights and that would have to be a good thing for everyone. You, me and the misunderstood.
But then at 4:02 am, I realised that an apology or an act of kindness which is enforced is actually bogus. It is contrived and it is not authentic. The good things that we offer to the wronged and underprivileged, must begin from the deepest part within us and not enforced from above. I well remember having to say ‘sorry’ to my brother from time to time and mutter it I did. But everyone knew that I didn’t really mean it and it certainly didn’t change my mean behaviour.
So sure there is much work that needs doing in our community, but the hard slog always starts from within us.