Let’s say I happen to know a story about a community.
It happened in a far, far away country. In that country, there’s a village full of people. Of course, it’s natural for them to divide themselves into groups. And of course, it’s also natural that there would be one group which was going to be the largest and most prominent. But there were also a few who chose to stand by their own.
Before I continue my story, first, let me tell you a little secret about mankind. Human are fickle creatures. They often trick and deceive other people to turn them into their side, agreeing their perspective. Why? Because human are also weak, they can easily be bonded by things in life. Those things are "body", "mind", and the most fearsome is "words". Mind and body come into accordance with words. Once the words has entered someone’s conciousness, it won’t just dissipate. Words will slowly, but sure, entered your head and altering your mind. When your mind has already been altered, your body will react according to your mind. And the body will soon telling people the words they had already heard, and sometimes even worse words will come out of their mouth because of human’s fickleness.
Let’s return to the story. So we already know the mainstream group and the other smaller and "less" important group. As the villagers are all human, they are also bound with the exact same chain that had bound the mankind. The community of this village, although divided into groups, often meet, chat and laugh together, telling jokes, gossips, and so on. In a brief glance, you’ll see a harmonious and warm community. But once, all of them had return to their real groups, they started to tell all things they’ve heard that day to the member of their groups.
When this happen, who do you think will be the winner? Yes, it is the mainstream group as they have the biggest influence and members. All those spreaded words will begin chaining other people. Those words can be gossips or facts. Words that can be painful or pleasant. Words that curse or words that praise. Frightening or encouraging. Slowly and subtly, the words spread, controlling minds, and minds controlling bodies.
One day, a member of one of the smaller groups (let’s say her name is Menore) made an accidental mistake to Graneola, a member of the mainstream. Menore accidentally took a job at a place that Graneola had been desiring, but unknown to Graneola, Menore took a job in a different division which wouldn’t affect the judgment of the shop.
This mistake was done unintentionally, Menore did not realize what she had done. She continued to play and chat with all the villagers from any groups. She lived her life peacefully. But Graneola, filled with anger and wrath started to spread words about Menore. Starting from inside her group, she told them that Menore had cheated at applying the job. Her friends, of course, believed her. They, as normal humans would do, started to hate Menore. They were despising her.
It may seems weird because Menore did nothing to the community. But I’m sure most of you, readers, must have done this deed with or without your conscience either by the sake of friendship or solidarity which is the more ridiculous part. BAH!
As any other day, the villagers gathered and chat. They began to chat about Menore. Each member of the mainstream groups, started to diffuse into the crowd. They tell all the people about the story, just as Graneola had told them or even worse. And then Menore came. As soon as Menore came, they stopped. In front of Menore’ face, they were still showing the same warm and friendly face. Inside their mind, they began to hate her, despise her.
Menore, not knowing all these, continued her life as usual. Until one day, the incident happened.
Menore had a friend in the mainstream, her friend’s name was Deirdre. Deirdre knew that most people had hated Menore, but she didn’t have the courage to tell Menore nor to defend her. She was afraid of the mainstream and didn’t want to ruin the fake harmony.
The words had been spreading slowly. But almost all villagers knew the story. They despised Menore. Every month, a big gathering was held by the mainstream. Menore, started to wonder, why she hadn’t been invited for quite a long time. Deirdre, knowing this, invited Menore to the gathering in order to maintain the fake harmony. Menore happily came to the party. But once there, she saw an argument between Deirdre and Graneola. She heard clearly what Graneola said, she said,"What? You invited Menore? Are you crazy? That girl doesn’t know how to respect other people. We all hate her."
Shocked, Menore cried and left the gathering, witnessed by all the villagers. She, then, constantly asking those who she believed were her true friends. And one by one, they confessed to her.
Menore was surprised by their story and explained to her friends what really happened. It was Graneola’s lack of ability to search for information about the job that led her astray. After all, Menore’s job and Graneola’s job didn’t have any direct nor indirect connection.
It was then that Menore’s eyes were opened. She realized all the fake harmony. She said to herself that she would try to be casual in front of those hateful people. But she won’t ask for their forgiveness.
This simple story, is a bit ridiculous, but I guess quite profound. This kind of story often happens in our community. Perhaps when you’ve read this story, you’ll realize what your words can do to other people. And you’ll know that true solidarity or friendship is not by hating the same people your friend is hating, but to make amends between your friend and his/her enemy.
Thank you for reading this story. I was inspired by xxxHolic. And no, it’s not a porn comic.
My weight is 86.2 kg.
