HURT PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE

2 PARAGRAPHS 4 LIBERTY: #394

As this Holiday Season is now upon us, I want to share with you one thing that I believe has set me apart from many other people in the world: Probably the greatest thing in life is not business success, wealth or fame – instead it is gratification. Just knowing that the world is a somewhat better place because you have spent your days upon it must be the most gratifying thing that can happen to a person. Of course, there are virtually countless things people can do to bring that gratification, such as having a wonderful, caring and supporting family, Saving the Redwoods, helping people resolve their disputes, coaching a little league baseball team, etc. and etc. But I vouch to you that one of the greatest source of gratification is helping people who are down on their luck, substance abusers, mentally ill, disabled, homeless, etc. What could be a better use of one’s life than helping those marginalized people to live up to their highest functioning level?

Not only can this beneficially affect the people you assist, but it will also beneficially affect numbers of innocent third parties. Why is that? Because, as I have seen throughout my time working in the criminal justice system, Hurt People Hurt People. There is nothing more dangerous than wounded people who have nothing to lose, and they commonly bring harm upon the rest of us. Thus beneficially interceding in hurt people’s lives can have huge and lasting beneficial effects upon many other people as well. So, reflecting upon being in the Holiday Season, I believe that Jesus was the epitome of One who thought, cared about and assisted hurt people. He let people know that they did not suffer alone. Let His example guide all of the rest of us as we enjoy and even bask in the Holiday Spirit. I believe it will bring gratification beyond belief! Finally, as Tiny Tim says every year: “God bless us, Every One!” Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas!

Effort for the week: I am trying to organize a Hide and Seek Tournament, but really good players are hard to find . . .

Judge Jim Gray (Ret.) Superior Court of Orange County, California 2012 Libertarian Candidate for Vice President

Please listen to our radio show entitled All Rise! The Libertarian Way with Judge Jim Gray as we discuss timely ssues and show how they will be addressed more beneficially by employing Libertarian values and approaches. The series has concluded, but you can still hear any edition On Demand at https://www.voiceamerica.com/show/3883. And, by the way, these 2 Paragraphs columns are now on my website at www.JudgeJImGray.com, Facebook and LinkedIn at judgejimgray, Twitter at judgejamesgray, and wordpress at judgejimgray.wordpress.com. Please visit these sites for past editions, and do your part to spread the word about the importance of Liberty. In addition, my new book with the same title as my radio show is now available at Amazon.com., as is my wife Grace’s and my new novel centered about School Choice entitled 2030 KIDS: We are the Rising Heroes of the Planet. Please read and discuss them with your friends, and send in a review.