Quote of the week

"Fear leads to anger; anger leads to hate; hate leads to the dark side" - Yoda.

Why do we fear others, those who are different from us? Is it simply the fear of the unknown, or is it our own insecurity? Whatever the reason, as long as we separate ourselves from others, cut ourselves off from experiencing them, their lives, their thoughts and beliefs, we cannot understand them and this lack of understanding will leave us uncertain of others.

If we engage with others, those who are different, and get to know them as individual human beings then it is much easier to understand them and much harder to fear them and thus hate them. It is much easier to hate an amorphous group of people than someone you actually say hello to every day.

If I don't know any Muslims, if I've never met a Muslim, then how can I really understand them? It is very easy to fear this faceless group of people. But how can I hate the young Muslim woman who smiled at me this afternoon as we passed in the street. Such a simple act, but so important, fear is dispelled by a the smallest kindness.

If we can learn to look through another's eyes, to 'walk a mile in someone's shoes', to make that all-important empathic link to another, then fear and anger and hate and darkness can be banished from our lives.

Wisely, speaks small green alien.