Forgiveness

No one “blows it,” not even the crucifiers. Everyone acts according to the fullest extent of their consciousness. Crime and punishment? Punishment is itself a crime.

Scapegoat

When something terrible happens, ego demands that someone be punished. In simpler times, they used a proxy. Two kids were pulled from the goatherd. One had its throat slit, the other was driven into the desert, taking with it all the sins of the community.

Ah, those were the days!

Not me

We are quick to see violence in others, slow to see it in ourselves. Humanity is steeped in violence. Are we not human? Where in the teapot is there no taste of tea? Ambition is violence. Winning is violence. Sport and fandom are violent. Wanting is violence. Pornography, politics, poverty and religion are violent. Putting the young in uniforms, training them to kill—this is not violence? Our penitentiaries legalize criminal behaviour in the name of good government. Women are paid less than we are. Our daughters are assaulted, raped, murdered, disappeared. But no, I am not violent. Not me.