Perpetuation is the Most Sincere Form of Hipocracy

On Sept. 21st, 2003, my cousin was murdered. It devastated our family. As would most, our family came together to comfort each other reminisce and celebrate my cousins memory. During this time, myself and some of my younger cousins engaged in a conversation about revenge. We talked about how, if we found out who was responsible for his death; it would be a given that this person would meet the same demise. No one batted an eye at the prospect of killing whoever was responsible. Then my aunt, his mother, came in the room. She was carrying the suit that he was to be buried in. The pain, suffering, and anguish was so intense with her that I could feel it. It was a real, tangible experience. Some of us decided right then and there that we would NEVER want ANYONE ELSE ON EARTH to feel that way. Vengeance was no longer an option. My goal then became rebuilding our family & making my cousin's memory a celebration instead of a source of pain. I took that thought and broadened it to the general population's opinion on the death penalty. I decided then, I was no longer in favor of it. It took the death of someone I loved to learn that, "if it's wrong to kill, then it is wrong to kill." When I think about it now, I'm almost ashamed of my past views. I had the mind state that if someone wronged me bad enough then they suddenly aren't the same kind of person as me. I acted as if that person's family wouldn't be destroyed without them. I also realized that by perpetuating the behavior, attitude, or action I despise, I am encouraging it. It would be like someone raping a loved one of mine, and then me raping a loved one of theirs; while trying to convince others that I think rape is wrong and a horrible thing. If you get a chance, ask yourself, "Do I perpetuate the behavior, beliefs, and attitudes that I say I don't condone?" It's a tough question. But that's just my opinion, though and who the hell am I