Unbounded

“Now, no matter what the mullah teaches, there is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft. Do you understand that?”

“No, Baba jan,” I said, desperately wishing I did. I didn’t want to disappoint him again. […]

“When you kill a man, you steal a life,” Baba said. “You steal his wife’s right to a husband; rob his children of a father. When you tell a lie, you steal someone’s right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness. Do you see?” […]

“There is no act more wretched than stealing, Amir,” Baba said. “A man who takes what’s not his to take, be it a life or a loaf of naan… I spit on such a man. And if I ever cross paths with him, God help him. Do you understand?” […]

“Yes Baba.”*

To consider one’s crowning achievement by obnoxious condescending behavior serve no value adding purpose to humanity, and is actually detrimental. For all sins are essentially corollaries of theft, and for theft - selfishness, know-it-all conduct is of no exempt.

Such crass act steals someone else’s right to have an equitable time to express one’s thoughts and affects; to speak, to learn, to ask, and to make mistakes.

Such crass act steals someone else’s right to attention; to be listened, to be questioned, and to be made right.

Finally, and most importantly, such crass act steal someone else’s right to be respected, for such a behavior, places one in the position being above all the others. That intangible right for equal treatment is selfishly disrespected.

If theft, and in its core, taking, is its sin, then giving, or more importantly, selfless giving be its virtue.

Giving without asking for anything in return; giving, not for the sake of giving, but for nurturing; giving for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or others’ growth.

People should learn to be more giving. People should appreciate the intent, act, and meaning of selfless giving. People should equally receive graciously with these in mind.

*****

*On a totally unrelated note to my post, the above quote came from The Kite Runner. And with that, thank you Yanna for my Christmas gift. I like it very much. =)

Chrissy and I were enthusiastically talking about this book about a week before you gave it and it’s supposed to be the number one of my ‘to buy’ list. Let me make up to you someday for my crappy gift =)