Ego

I'm thinking a lot right now about the way people interact with others; specifically about kindness and hate. Sometimes it takes something drastic for someone to show kindness and support. If you think about achieving world peace, all we really need is to understand each other. I know its a LOT easier said than done, everyone is different, people disagree on things. But, most people agree that they don't want to be sad; or if they are in need he/she would appreciate help, even if it's from a stranger. I strongly believe in the saying, "treat others the way you want to be treated," so why cant people understand each other? The problem is ego. I think it's weird how it's pretty much human nature to be selfish. Yes, I understand wanting to survive and doing whatever is necessary to survive, so in that sense you put yourself before others. But I don't understand people with a big ego, people who truly believe that they are better than everyone else. If you think about it, that's why there is so much hate. But then, if something drastic happens, (most of the time) people will react with kindness. For example, say a boy in high school is unpopular, bullied, doesn't have many friends, etc. Every normal day people ignore him, treat him badly, make him feel worthless, but one day his mom dies. The whole school will react with kindness and support right? Announcements will be made asking for donations for him and his family. People who once bullied him will see him in the hallway and say "I'm so sorry for your loss." Why is it that it took a death in this boy's family to grant him some kindness and respect? It's sad to think that we live in a world where kindness is only shown in times of need rather than as an aspect of everyday life. Another example: in my high school there is a club called Best Buddies; it's a club dedicated to ending the isolation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. At this club high school, students pretty much hang out with their peers with disabilities. Its purpose is to make them feel less isolated and gain equality between those students who are in special education classes and those who are not. To me, it seems so strange however, that the students in that club are showing so much kindness to their peers with intellectual disabilities, but not to their own peers? Why is it that some people who are bullies in the hallways can act so caring and sweet after school in Best Buddies? I think it's for the look. People post all over social media about how they had such a great time with their friend from best buddies! They get so many likes and comments about how they are so sweet and if you think about it, it builds that person's ego. Kindness today is just about the look; just about inflaming your ego to make yourself feel better, kindness isn't genuine these days. People are only kind when they need to be, and that is so sad. I also don't understand how people can be so mean to strangers, people they don't even know! It astonishes me how someone can truly believe he or she is better than someone they don't even know. Ego can tie into so many things. This is the reason we are fighting for so much equality. We protest for women's rights, racial equality, gender equality, LGBTQ rights, etc. To me, these issues have one problem in common: ego. You fight for women's rights because they are seen as inferior to men. You fight for racial equality because some races believe they are better than others. People with different sexualities, genders, even religions, all disagree with each other because they have a big ego; they believe they are the best. It's sad, it's disappointing, and I want to put an end to that. Everyone deserves kindness, don't let your ego get in the way of that.