An eye for an eye

May 5th, 2022.

Many people around the globe, especially in the western world, have learned to live their lives in a way that tit for tat is very common. When someone does something good for another person, it is expected that the other will do the opposite.

When it comes to treating others, many people believe that, that's what they need. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, but this is wrong and it is not fair. You see, you cannot judge a person's soul with their body. It is wrong to have one eye for an eye. It is wrong to have one tooth for a tooth. You see, what happens if everyone does this? If we get revenge to those who hurt us, things will be as bad as it was before, as we continue to get revenge for getting revenge.

The majority of people live their lives by this code, each person taking the wrong which has been done to them, and doing the wrong to another.

When I was growing up we had a saying " you better watch your back because what goes around comes around."

The eye for an eye code is a system of justice. I think if you suffer at the hands of another and don't fight back, karma will get you later.

An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind.

This oft-quoted line from the Sermon on the Mount means that if a person seeks revenge, they will leave themselves in a state of anger and hatred.

It's been said that an eye for an eye will leave the whole world blind. Of course, that statement never really works out in practice. We're mostly blinded by our own biases and by the fact that we are all pretty much equally to blame for the world becoming a mess.

Still, we can't help but wonder how things came this far. We can't help but ask: What was it like before? We try to do our part to make things better, to be better. But, we know — above all — that we need to improve ourselves.

There are many examples of tit for tat that are bad, such as the current eye for an eye justice system. If you commit a crime that causes someone loss of eyesight, then you should be punished with blindness. This won't benefit anyone and isn't fair.

"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

I read once that during World War II, a prisoner of war escaped and there was a reward offered for his capture. Afterward, some soldiers captured someone the looked like him, brought him back, and collected the reward. When he showed up the next day, they didn't recognize him but still beat him up.

The eye for an eye or tit for tat is a value that is pernicious and has no place in a vision supposed to change the world. You cannot fight evil with evil, you cannot hit out and expect to hit back harder.

It is a fact that wrong things keep happening in the world because of eye for an eye, tit for tat. It's sad but true.

Here are some examples:

In one of his stories, Aesop talks about a dog who had three puppies. A mean old woman lured the puppies away with food and killed them. The dog was furious and went to find the old woman.

The dog was planning to bite the old lady in the leg but before he did, the woman said she was sorry and wouldn't do it again. Now the dog was happy but still a little angry so he only bit her ankle instead of her whole leg.(lol)

The inspiration for this article is that we all should not pay evil for evil or evil for good. When things are wrong around you, take a deep breath before acting.

How are you supposed to notice all the things in your life that are wrong?

So much hate and superiority in this world.

Where should I start?

How will the hate ever stop?

I guess it will never stop because I hate too.

We should just be nice to each other but how do we do that?

How can we be nice when we are so different?

How can we agree when we have different backgrounds, political views, and religions?

All of us have been hurt in one way or another so why can't we just accept our pain and move on?

To do so would mean not holding on to our pain, anger, and resentment. And not react to others tit for tat or an eye for an eye.