WHATEVER HAPPENED TO “THE GREATER GOOD”?

“If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
If I am only for myself, what am I?
If not now, when?”                                                                                  ~ Hillel

Once upon a time, long, long ago, in ancient times of naïveté
most folks shared a concept not mentioned much today: “the greater good”
In those quaint days
people were expected to think not only of themselves, but also of others
and of society as a whole
People valued one another and their country
they made sacrifices when necessary for the greater good
and if folks disagreed, they most often could, and would, compromise

Things have certainly changed, but why?
Even wolves and cave men figured out that cooperation works
far better for any group than does selfishness because
it enables them to have better lives
The mere thought of doing the most good for the most people
has somehow become sinful
has been shot down and buried
along with humanistic values
“Love your neighbor as yourself”
devalued; ignored; almost forgotten
making relationships fraught
between people; communities; countries

Look around our world -
at the countries run by theocracies like Iran
by dictators or gangs or anarchists
or terrorists, like Gaza
by those who “govern“ others, but serve themselves
Look at lands whose people are ruled with an iron fist
whose people are barraged by propaganda and falsehoods
who are desperate and fear for their lives if they do not obey
and who, brainwashed, come to believe what their leaders teach them
because their leaders do not believe in the greater good
only in their own

How do we not fight fire with fire and still survive?
How do we still believe in, and act for, the common good?
How do we bring shalom to such a world?

               - Debbie Troner