Let's Be Friends

Warmer weather makes me positive. It awakens my compassion to see people about in the sunshine after so long stranded to the confines of our homes. Human beings were not meant to be held up in the dwelling, the car, the store, but to be out amid one another. When we are bundled and brisking through the cold air, we become so internally focused and brash with others, but when we are able to fully flex ourselves in the warmth, we become more open, friendlier, and less inhibited--which is a truer and happier expression of our nature.

The cold affects our perspectives, we focus on our antagonizers because we are essentially couped up with them and have no refuge in the cold. The warmth affects us in the opposite way, as we begin to focus more on those who deserve our sympathies, respect, and love, because even in the face of our adversary, we're able to find refuge in the warmth of nature and others. We begin to recognize that none are beyond redemption in our own eyes except those who refuse to be.

Some children do not ask for, want, or need our attention, and therefore, we only do them a disservice by trying to hover around them, even if we have the best intentions. By the same token, adults are the same way. It is our duty as human beings existing in a society to make sure we extend the olive branch of peace, love, tolerance, and respect to as many of our fellow beings--men, women, girls, and boys--as will receive it, and live and let live with everyone else.

There are those who do not think a child, no matter how respectful or indignant, ought to be extended this olive branch of fellowship because they do not regard children worthy of receiving it. They'd wish to reserve all best-wishes and civility towards children for those they deem worthy of giving it. These are the people in the park who have let the grip of stranger-danger pervert their good nature, and one can only hope they could eventually be reasoned with. If a child is being disrespectful and they are with a respectful and dignified parent, to refuse to show compassion toward their parent in a friendly hello is to be placing the child's tantrum above the respect for the parent. Everyone generally believes this is true. When not given, it is why parents feel ashamed when they are in public with disorderly children--they naturally fear judgement, and children are no doubt aware of that.

Just as much though, I say that if the parent of a child is unwilling to receive the good tidings and respect of a stranger, and the child is open towards such cordiality, then to deprive the child of the dignity of a friendly hello is to position the disrespect of the parent over the openness of the child. Children are never off-limits to the well-wishes and respect of an honest stranger just because their parent hasn't deemed him worthy to be dignifying their child with a friendly hello. We can all agree that it is only when the stranger aggressively pursues his momentary acquaintances that he has crossed the line of acceptable conduct, but none of that is implied from the friendly hello on its own, so therefore, there is no reason to deny one being given.

I would rather anger a disrespectful parent with a cordial child in tow by choosing to greet them both with a friendly hello as I pass them on the street, then ignore the dignity of one for the bad behavior of the other. There is no harm in a friendly hello. Such a thing when given freely and genuinely, is an expression of human love--the reinforcement that binds our society from collapse.