It’s possible that you’ve never heard it before, but there’s a Brazilian proverb that says: “pepper in other people’s eyes is refreshing.” The meaning of this could be something similar to: “If others have been harmed, we should walk carefully.” Unfortunately, I realize daily how much people (the majority) use and abuse this famous saying.
When empathy is absent
It seems that the vast majority takes pleasure in the ruin of others. That the distress of others is a kind of victory for themselves. And that the downfall of another brings them some kind of comfort or prosperity. There are no shortage of examples in my daily life, and I’m sure the same goes for yours.
Let me give you an example: A while back, on my way home from work on my motorcycle, I witnessed a scene that is shocking to those who possess even the slightest amount of empathy. At a point on the road, just in front of me, I saw a white cloud of smoke that seemed never-ending.
As I approached its origin, with the traffic already slowed down, I saw that a car was on fire. As I slowed down even more, I noticed that next to the car was a desperate man who was unsuccessfully trying to put out the fire that was rapidly consuming his car.
I also noticed that he had already removed everything from inside the car, including some colorful beach balls with their respective paddles that I imagine he had in the trunk of his car. But what caught my attention was yet to come.
Just a few meters from the flaming vehicle, there were some people (if they can be called people) recording the whole situation with their phones. Everyone was intently filming the man who was risking his life, who was somehow trying to save what had cost him hours of work and unimaginable sacrifices.
Everyone was recording the scene with a smile on their face, as if there was some kind of amusement in that situation, while the man tried to save what could be his tool of work, and what would guarantee his family’s bread on the table.
And there is no shortage of such examples, smaller and even bigger ones. In several accidents, I’ve seen different bystanders and onlookers who were passing by the accident scene “competing” for the best place to photograph and record the whole scene and to be the first to upload it to social media with the best shot of the situation.
I could cite several more cases, but I think it’s enough to illustrate how love and respect for others have become increasingly scarce elements in people’s hearts and minds.
Changing the course of life
You don’t have to risk your own life to help others. But recording and enjoying yourself having some likes on Instagram or Twitter for giving “the news” won’t do any good. If you encounter someone in an adverse or unfavorable situation, use your smartphone only to ask for help, if necessary.
In the same way that this entry began with a popular phrase, we end this episode with another great proverb that says: “he who doesn’t obstruct, helps a lot.” And if by chance you receive any content of this nature on your mobile, reprimand the person who sent it to you, don’t share it, and delete the file.
Sharing the tragedy of others in WhatsApp groups and on social media won’t help the one who really has the problem. And we must remember that today it could be my neighbor or an unknown person, but tomorrow it could be me or you.
And I’m sure that neither you nor I would like to be recorded when we really needed help. Extending a hand, a word of comfort, a shoulder to cry on, or any other means of help, can change the course and life of someone who
