Your Neighbor is Not The Enemy

If we have learned anything in the last few years, it seems to be to hate your neighbor as if they were an enemy. We are being slowly and methodically divided against each other. Yet so many people can’t seem to see that your neighbor is not the enemy.

It wasn’t that long ago that we saw other people as fellow human beings. Oh sure, there was some division and rivalry. But none of that led to violence and hatred the way it does today.

Of course, location makes a difference. There was always more division in the bigger cities. But in small towns it was almost the unwritten rule: your neighbor is not the enemy. In fact, neighbors were often hastily called babysitters, rides for ourselves or our children if our vehicle broke down, and last-minute pantries if we needed a cup of coffee or a spoonful of sugar. How many of us today would feel comfortable asking our neighbor for a cup of coffee?

The big picture that nobody is looking at is that it is our own government that is fostering the hatred among us. They are the real enemy, and the ones we should direct our anger towards.

The problem is that over the years we have allowed the government to control our lives. Instead of fighting them our grandparents and parents handed them keys to the house.

Over time we have lost the pride in our struggle. It used to mean something when you could buy something new because you worked hard and saved up for it. Today, we just go take out another loan and put our lives in debt for something we want but could live without.

We’ve learned how to live easy. Instead of growing up and learning the struggle, we are growing up expecting that life should be easy, fun, and handed to us. Big banks, big pharma, and big government run our lives now.

Our foods have been poisoned over the years but it’s OK. Big pharma has an expensive pill to keep us alive. And then another to counteract the side effects of the first one.

Government taxes us to death to keep us poor. We put ourselves in debt to keep up with the Jones, and the Smiths and the Whites. Our employers, even if they are honest, have to pay hefty taxes and insurance themselves, making it harder to pay employees. Dishonest employers gouge whatever they can while trying to squeeze every drop of life out of their employees.

Yet we take it out on those around us. We are upset and angry. But our neighbor is not the enemy. And the sooner we learn that, the better off our communities will be.

We are at a crucial point in our lives. What if the government doesn’t end the shutdown? Can small communities learn to care for each other and help each other survive? Can big cities even continue to exist in some semblance of peace if things don’t go back to the way everyone expects?

Are you willing to help your neighbor? Would they be willing to put aside differences to help you?

Families and friends need to band together and make a pact to help each other, to stick together. If we don’t, we will all be left behind alone in the ashes of our society.