What is Weakness?

 

It took me years to understand that words are often as important as experience, because words make experience last. William Morris https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/william_morris

Weak is an overused word, a criticism for those who are not in the same party as you. When you go for a job interview you may be asked what your greatest weaknesses are. But I am looking at the accusations found in news articles. The popular kind of behaviours called weak. 

"All cruelty springs from weakness" said Lucius Annaeus Seneca. (Roman Statesman 5 - 65 AD. Brainyquotes.com)

Two thousand years after Seneca was born, no commentator said the young man who gunned down innocent shoppers in Buffalo was suffering from weakness. The event was cruel to be sure, and his manifesto quoted misinformation from White Supremacists, but no commentator of note called the movement weak. To cause such havoc would appear to be powerful in effect. 

Weakness seems so opposite to violence, war, racism and hate, because it causes so much suffering. But should the general population rise up and go to war against racism? What country or continent is without racism?

White Supremacy is a weakness built on lies and the abuse of all who are not white. I have used the words mental illness before but it doesn't help anyone who is held up as powerful. The word evil is packed with power, so the gunman who shot innocent shoppers last week has been called evil. However in this climate where evil is a threat and therefore has power, and actually threatens the entire planet, can we find the actual cause and a medicine for it?

Is our entire human endeavour to fight cruelty weak? Are we who live lives of love and nature weak? Can we accept we are not in control and war will not fix cruelty no matter how brave and strong our military might be?

To not do anything to fight injustice is weak, to believe we can change things is weak, to ignore the struggles of those who put themselves in danger's way is weak, to criticize who who stand up against injustice is weak, to look away when you see someone being hurt is weak, to side with the bullies is weak, to be cynical is weak, a government who doesn't fight for what is right is weak.

No matter how loud or confident 'a leader' may sound if he does not side with the afflicted he is weak because he/she is not doing his/her job. To not be sure when to step in and defend those who are bullied is weak but war is not a way out. To not understand that missiles and bombs cannot defend anyone is weak. To throw money at the arms industry without helping those who have been harmed is weak. To join a group without saying what you know to be true is weak. To buy things just for your own pleasure that encourages inequality is weak. To not speak truth because you fear losing your job is weak.

We are all weak at times but to pretend you are never weak or wrong is weak and what will come of it is far more dangerous than the original problem.