Something that encourages abuses is the belief that good deeds “purify” everything, leaving everything as white as Ariel detergent. Of course, it is good to do favors for others and contribute to NGOs. But it is not good to think that this constitutes a kind of indulgence that forgives all sins, allowing us to abuse human or non-human animals while simultaneously being good people, free of stain.

This is not the case, as the only thing that cleanses the harm we have caused—which was not in self-defense—is sincere repentance, apologizing, making amends, repairing the damage, and not doing it again.

Read LET US REPAIR THE DAMAGE!

Some find this difficult to see, as they mythologize the act of charity so much that they sugarcoat anyone who practices it, regardless of the evils they commit. Help can be a blinding light that prevents one from seeing what lies behind it, specifically the harm caused to innocents by the person being supportive. The attraction can be as great as that of Odysseus toward the sirens’ songs. This is true to the point that many have approached Nazi, neo-Nazi, neo-fascist, or Islamist/jihadist organizations because of the assistance they provided.

The cause of this is likely biological; that is, we possibly have a congenital tendency to idealize those who cooperate, especially if they do so with us, because this has helped our species survive throughout history.

But the reality is that it is not the mark of a good person to give with one hand and take with the other, to help with one arm and cause harm with the other, especially when we do much more harm than good, as is often the case.

Read LET US NOT HARM ANYONE!

For example, there are many individuals who support a few people, or even pay a small monthly fee to Oxfam Intermón or the Red Cross, or spend one hour a week keeping an elderly person company, but at the same time cause suffering to thousands of sentient beings. In fact, on average, every inhabitant of the planet victimizes more than 20,000 farm animals over the course of their life.

Read LET US LIVE WITHOUT HARMING! Not animals either

If I put 20 weights on the scale of altruism and 20,000 on the scale of abuse, it is clear which way the balance tips, right? But even if the scale of good deeds is very full, it does not compensate for the harm caused, as the beneficiaries and the victims are different. Again, the only thing that compensates is reparation to the victims, asking for their forgiveness, sincere repentance, and rectification.

Let us not act like King James I the Conqueror, who was very generous in donating money for the construction of the Cathedral of Palma de Mallorca after committing a genocide of almost the entire indigenous population of the island and the enslavement of the inhabitants of Ibiza.

Or like Isabella the Catholic, who also donated significant amounts to a congregation while simultaneously enslaving the inhabitants of Granada and the Canary Islands (or rather, those who had not committed suicide to avoid being enslaved), subjugating the indigenous peoples of America and stealing their lands, expelling the Jews, and promoting the horrors of the Inquisition.

It is better to first focus our efforts on not doing any unjustified harm to anyone, as this is not easy, for it goes against our nature, to varying degrees according to each person:

• Hyper-predatory and harmful.

• Follower of the herd, also in causing harm.

• Labeler.

• Conservative, even regarding injustices.

• Gullible regarding the education we received in childhood, however harmful it may be.

Let us avoid ‘in-group favoritism,’ which involves treating those within our immediate circle well while simultaneously mistreating those outside of it. To put it more plainly and colloquially, it means being kind to our own and disregarding the well-being of others. As Hitler did, who was very devoted to those under his protective umbrella—that is, non-Jewish, non-gay, non-disabled German-speaking Aryans—but aggressive towards those outside his perimeter.

In summary, first is to do no evil, and then to do good. First, let us be good people and, as a complement to that, be supportive of others.

Read LIVING WITHOUT HARMING: Let us be good people

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