Cycle Breaker

No one is born with the desire to hurt others.
No one comes into this world with the intent to harm, to violate, to hate, or to abuse.
It is only those who have been hurt, those who carry wounding, that would, in turn, chose to wound another. 
Hurt people, hurt people. 
We can see this truth throughout our world. 
In the convicted murderers on death row, over 90% of whom experienced early childhood abuse. In the brutal dictators who were bullied mercilessly throughout their scholastic years. In marginalized peoples, turned violent aggressors. In victims turned perpetrators, and perpetrators turned victims.

This is a cycle of human suffering which we can choose to perpetuate or choose to break.

We can meet hatred with aggression, and aggression with dehumanization.
Or, conversely, we can meet hatred with compassion, and aggression with understanding. 
It's not about forgiveness, justification, or explanation. 
It's not about right or wrong. 
If we're being really honest, each of us, every human on this planet, has played both sides of this story. 
There are no "good guys" or "bad guys" here.
As difficult as it might be to remember at times, especially times like this, we're all human. We're all just doing the best we can with what we have.

We can break the cycle of hurt people hurting people. 
We can choose to employ the sort of unflinching honesty which allows us to clearly see our own transgressions. We can open ourselves to the sort of radical empathy which allows us to see the basic humanity in those who we may otherwise see as inhuman. 
Wherever we stand, whatever we choose, we are all in this together. 
I love you.
-e