Doves and Scorpions

In the Gospels, Christ condemned most of all sins, hypocrisy - the act of speaking well and doing evil. Instead, we should do no harm, yet beware of evil. It is not sufficient to simply do no harm, and go around being naive. Christ also taught us to be aware of the wolves in sheep's clothing.

To be harmless as doves means more than doing no harm physically. As humans, we can also do harm through our capacity for language. Indeed, more harm can be done through words than through sticks and stones. And as Issac Asimov so clearly stated in his First Law of Robotics, harm can be done by omission as well as by commission. "A robot cannot harm a human being through its action or by its inaction." To stand by and do nothing while someone is harmed is almost as unacceptable morally and certainly partake in the guilt in the eyes of the law as the person doing harm. Ben Franklin made a policy to never gossip, and to never listen to gossip. It is not only our active participation, but also our silent consent to partake in an act of aggression, however non-physical it may be. Psychological and emotional abuse are sometimes more painful, and longer lasting than physical abuse.

To be wise as scorpions means to see past the superficial obvious manifestation, to understand the undercurrents and subtle relationships that link one part with another. When we see rain clouds gathering, we do not go out without an umbrella; when we see the sun going down for the night, we do not go hiking in the dark. To be wise is to know the consequences of our actions, and inactions. More than that, to be wise is to know not only ourselves, but also others, especially those others who are most different from us, even those whose selfishness, dishonesty, and aggressive nature are alien to us. It is better to know evil and be harmless as doves, than it is to speak as a dove, to dress as a sheep, and yet devour others, abuse the weak, and muddy the water common to all.

We are often told than idealists won't last in reality, or Washington, or whatever political system. Yet, it is not idealism, but common decency. And it is not pragmatic realism, but selfish laziness, that these so called realists are often the advocates. It is always easier to stand idle and do nothing, or do less, than it is to work hard doing the right thing. To be harmless as doves means it will be hard work. It is not the speaking of the truth that we need in utopia, but the doing of the truth, the right thing, that builds utopia a little at a time.