The Laughing Wolf

Way Of The Wolf: Acceptable Prejudice

Many years ago, a friend made a comment that I did not have a prejudiced bone in my body. I surprised them and some others by saying that this was not true, that I was extremely prejudiced. I am extremely prejudiced and I admit it. This is not a bad thing, but a very good one, and I want to encourage you to be prejudiced as well.

To be fair, however, my prejudice has nothing to do with the colour of a person’s skin, the church to which they belong, the lodge they join, or any of the other typical causes of strife. These are all mundane things not worthy of true consideration. There is only one basis for being prejudiced: the colour of a person’s soul.

I am prejudiced against evil. The way I often explain it is to say that I hate jackasses of any colour, and that is true. It is not, however, complete. Simply being a jackass is but one indication of a person who’s soul is black and evil. A simple ass can be laughed at, ignored, or made fun of, but someone beyond that is not to be tolerated in the least.

What, then, makes a person evil? It is doing the wrong things for the wrong reason. It is causing others harm for personal pleasure or advancement. It is having no word or bond, or any foundation on which to build personal integrity. It is all of these and more.

What is not evil? It is not a person who makes an oath, tries to live up to it the best they can, and fails. It is not necessarily the person who does something that thwarts you or your desires, or is in constant opposition to you at work or play. It is not a rude or uncouth person. It is not someone who was born at a disadvantage relative to you, or for that matter, at a relative advantage to you.

Evil shows itself by actions and inactions. It shows itself in doing harm or allowing harm to be done for no reason other than pleasure or the advancement of the person in question. It really is that simple.

Yet it is also complex, and requires a great deal of thought. Someone could allow great harm to be done, and it may advance them. If, however, this was done to prevent a far greater harm and to achieve a greater good, is that evil? To me, the answer is no. I may not like it, and I hope that such is never my fate, but it is not evil if there are no other viable alternatives.

This is a short one, simply because it is one YOU need to think about and contemplate. Take the time, because it is not something to be decided in a minute, an hour, or a day. It may take a lifetime to think about and discuss the ramifications. It is easy to see clear evil and identify it. It is not always so easy to be sure of things and to give them the thought they deserve. This is one where you need to take the time and think now, so that you are prepared and can act when needed.

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