Quote Response Chapters 11-15 - Assignment D *

"But how can such courage be, and such faith in their own species? Very few things would teach such faith. The people in flight from the terror behind- strange things happen to them, some bitterly cruel and some so beautiful that the faith is refired forever." (122)

This quote in particular made me reflect on the principles I live by and also filled me up with a feeling of hope. One of the most appealing set of principles I have learned is the principles of nonviolence, many of which are present in this quote. The first principle states that nonviolence is a way of living for courageous people, like the first line of the quote, this principle acknowledges the difficulty in acting in a manner that is loving and unconditionally accepting. It deeply bothers me that we have still not overcome our competitive nature and continue to accept the us versus them mentality. Yes, it is difficult to overcome that carnal instinct, but in no way is it impossible. I think that may have been what struck me, the capacity we as a species have to love but our inability to express it to everyone in our species. I believe this faith can be taught but is failed to be. So many examples are present in history of people working together to destroy injustice, not people, understanding and loving each other and their enemies. If more emphasis was spent learning about events like the Indian independence movement or the civil rights movement rather than on wars maybe more people would have more faith in their species. We focus too much on the "bitterly cruel" parts, which I believe makes it easier to think of others as being the ones to blame and reinforces the us versus them mentality. But how we see other humans is not just taught to us through history but it also experienced, first hand. The quote continues and says that kind, beautiful actions can help ensure this faith in others, or simply that kindness provokes kindness. And I know this to be true, some kind actions have had the power to  helped people live another day. I believe in that because I know one of those people who survived off of the kindness and compassion of others. It is not easy to have this faith, but after reading this quote I'd rather struggle trying to love than to easily accept hate.