When I was a child, forgiveness seemed so uncomplicated and straightforward. And it was always a two-way street. No self-righteous absolutisms existed back then, except for divine ones or Mom’s discretionary punishments. Forgiveness and repentance went hand-in-hand to the ice cream social of human decency. Idealistic? Maybe, but it sure looks good in hindsight.
So why is it that I feel like I’m drowning in a tsunami of hate right now, when the opposite should have been our logical evolution? One thing is certain: Karl and I are incredibly grateful to be living in Costa Rica as the turbulence in the States and the rest of the developed world escalates at an alarming rate. Today, forgiveness of your sworn enemies is perceived as a sign of ultimate weakness, betrayal even. And this doesn’t only apply to global leaders, who have the power to destroy all life on earth with the touch of a button. This pervasive, hate-filled mentality has trickled down to the lowest echelon of our society. Right down to preschoolers, who are learning a whole different vocabulary of intolerance than I ever did. Of course, I didn’t have active shooter drills in kindergarten, either.
The current state of affairs is probably why there are so many futuristic, apocalyptic movies and books hitting the bestseller lists. Not so far-fetched now, right? Even I could probably create some convincing world-building, with sociopathic narcissists running their empires in a mad money-grab while artificial intelligence quietly, imperceptibly, takes control of everything. Kaboom.
I’m so frustrated that decency and integrity are carrying less and less value in most circles. It’s all about winning. Egos over empathy. No amount of civil discourse or reasoning without rancor seems to make a difference. My solution to avoid this blooming toxicity is to withdraw and take a vow of silence. This strategy has always been anathema to my core essence, so the internal debate continues to rage.
In the meantime, we are so happy this week to share in the celebration of a country that chose peace, democracy, and education as the foundation of its future.
¡Feliz Día de la Independencia, Costa Rica!
Pura Vida
Judy Richter 