Caring Matters

I need not fear my enemies because the most they can do is attack me. I need not fear my friends because the most they can do is betray me. But I have much to fear from people who are indifferent.

~ Assyrian Proverb ~

For me, indifference is one of the most galling human traits. It's one thing if a person doesn't have a strong opinion on trivial matters; it's quite another if we're talking about important stuff. The indifferent person will often standby when great harm is being caused and just look away in a ho-hum manner.

Like almost anyone else, I like it when folks agree with me. However, I would much rather deal with someone who vehemently disagrees with me than with someone who is so self-absorbed that they don't give a flip. I'd rather you care about aspects that I don't agree with than not care at all.

In my opinion, indifferent individuals are the most dangerous of all. It reminds of the short poem attributed to the Pastor Martin Niemöller:

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out — because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak out.