Ends and Means (a lament)

---

The end justifies the means. 
The means justify the end. 

Justifications that
don’t always suffice. 

Justifications that allow
for unsavory actions. 

Sometimes used in an attempt to
justify the unjustifiable. 

---

Love your neighbor as yourself
(becomes easy to ignore)

---

We’re taught as children that two wrongs don’t make a right. 

Yet, as adults, we make excuses. 
We justify it.

We allow ourselves to be persuaded
by those who will benefit from the suffering of others.

We convince ourselves that
this must be the right path.

We willfully overlook injustice.

We call it a gray area.

It’s okay to do a little harm
so that this end is achieved.

It’s okay to allow a little suffering.

It’s okay to disregard those people,
to dehumanize them.

To hate them.

It’s okay.

But is it?

---

If the means to the end are harmful to others, 
I don’t believe the end or the means are justified. 

If our actions, our words, our hearts harm the vulnerable,
those who are already suffering, there is no justification. 

This isn’t love. It isn’t loving.

---

The end doesn’t justify the means.
The means don’t justify the end.