When it comes to the word good, I have long come to the conclusion that cruelty is never good. The enjoyment and mastery of cruelty in ones language and actions is a fatal flaw in the human character. As we face the election season we need to keep this in mind for our leaders. The idea one must be cruel to be kind doesn’t survive. Being transparent, courageous and honest with the truth is hard and often unpleasant but truth is its own master. No, if this nation is again experimenting with cruelty, it can’t and won’t work for the American tradition. 

Here is a poem by a 14 century Sufi Poet Hafiz. He says it beautifully. 

Once a young woman said to me

Once a young woman said to me , “Hafiz, what

is the sign of someone who knows God?”

I became very quiet and looked deep into her 

eyes, then replied,

“My dear, they have the dropped the knife. Someone

who knows God has dropped the cruel knife

that most so often use upon their tender self 

and others.