Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Can Shunning Be Compassionate?

If nine people willingly sit down with a Nazi there are ten Nazis at the table.

Like so many these days I have to deal with people I truly love turning out to be bigoted assholes.  They have joined the Cult of the Baddies.  I have to remind myself that I do not want to hurt them, but neither can I give tacit approval to their unhinged ideas.

I confess there's that part of me looking for schadenfreude, imagining groveling apologies and abject humiliation when my views are finally vindicated.  I am only human after all.

We are called to look after one another, but not necessarily to sacrifice ourselves.  Ultimately there is no self, but in this world of dichotomies I need to find a path that serves the needs of as many as possible.

So I am looking at this with compassion.  If I contact any of these people I am not likely to avoid a confrontation which will only serve to further erode our relationship.  Ultimately at this stage the kindest thing I can do is cut contact and remember this isn't out of anger.   It is out of love.

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