Episode 34: When Kindness Eats Itself

Like the mythical orouborus, there are times when 'kindness' is in fact unkind; when a stance of softness and allowing becomes harmful and thus, in truth, a form of meanness. The modern West has learnt much from the crueller episodes of world history and come to an appreciation of the value of gentleness, inclusion and respect for the disempowered; however, as is so often the case in life and learning, the mainstream culture is veering too far in this once progressive direction, to the point that we are growing zealously fixated on a narrow and ideologically-constrained definition of kindness, virtue and goodness. We must recognise once again that in fact to be truly kind and good, one must be capable of telling harsh but healing truths, as well as be willing and able to enforce boundaries for the protection of oneself, loved ones, and even the values and institutions harmony rests upon.