Root Causes Bring Similar Effects

I have learned much in my days on earth. One of those deep guiding principles I picked up on many years ago was not so hard to see:

To adequately love others and possess the ability to show proper care and concern for them, a person must first love themselves.

I don't mean love themselves above all others, but they need to love themselves AS they love others.

I cannot tell you how many times I have met individuals who act out in maladaptive ways. And in almost every instance, there just happens to be a certain unhealthy measure of self-loathing involved. As a result, they do not like the person they are.

I don't really know a whole lot about everyone. But for whatever reason, most of them had little (if any) sense of self-worth or self-respect. Guilt, bitterness, whatever the root, there were some underlying issues that defined who he/she had become....and it isn't easy to fix.

Knowing this to be true about human relationships, we know that it can manifest in the same manner. It can show up in international and sometimes intercontinental relationships.... as a macrocosm of a living individual.

Pascal Bruckner has been described as one of Europe's most fiery polemicists and seems to be onto a reasonable explanation of why Europe and America has had some differences in international approaches. I recommend taking a little time to read this very well-written examination, from a European who can step outside of the continent and look inward.


UPDATE:

Sorry, I have been out of computer range for awhile in the mountains...in a cabin with no internet connection, no wi-fi, no nothing.

The link has been fixed. Please indulge and comment.