[Eng] The elusive and necessary reciprocity

This is the second time I write in this community. I am very sorry for losing the previous challenge, but well, here I am in this new activity called:

Tell us a little more about Reciprocity - Unity Community Challenge [EN -FR]

I've been thinking about this principle called reciprocity, well, in fact I've been thinking about it for a long time, since lately life has shown me situations in which it is present, and others in which its absence it is very noticeable.

In my opinion, reciprocity is the fair exchange of feelings and actions between people; which, in turn, is linked to responsibility and empathy; because being reciprocal requires being aware of the relational bond that one has, and that this must be an equitable give and take, and also implies putting oneself in the place of the other (alterity), in order to see in its fair dimension why it should be be reciprocal based on this, I will proceed to make some reflections on the matter.

It is no secret to anyone that my country, Venezuela, is suffering a terrible migratory exodus. Millions of people have migrated in recent years, and the vast majority have done so with great difficulty, fleeing almost only with the clothes they are wearing to other borders, often on foot, on very long walks, risking death, in search of a better quality of life. All of this has caused families to break up, the elderly, children, and pets to be left behind, forgotten, either out of extreme need, or out of simple comfort and impiety on the part of those who leave.

It is common for very similar and sad stories related to migration to be heard in every town and city, in every region of Venezuela. An example of this is the horrible news that came out months ago, in the national newspapers, about two elderly people, a man and a woman, who were brothers, and died of hunger, starvation, because they had nothing to eat. They were found days later, due to the decomposition of the bodies in the apartment they lived in. I wondered at that moment, where were their relatives, where were their friends, where were their neighbors... no one felt any remorse for not having helped them or at least made public the situation of extreme poverty and abandon these people. I am sure that some person, at some point, received help from these two elders and they did not reciprocate with them.

There are also frequent stories of children, who are left behind by their fathers and mothers, left in the care of relatives, neighbors or friends, who are often abused, mistreated and even killed at the hands of those who are supposed to take care of them, a horror unparalleled. I don't want to talk about this, because ugly news is seen every day in the newspapers and TV news, and that would make me cry, it would take away my faith in humanity.

Another situation that has arisen very frequently is the abandonment of pets, dogs and cats, that were part of the families, and they are left behind, even locked in abandoned houses, without water and without food, destined for a cruel death. ; forgetting about them and not feeling an iota of compassion or pity, they do not have the decency to leave the animal in someone else's care, or in a shelter, or at least free, so that it can go out and find something to eat and drink (not is the ideal, but at least they are not confined to four walls or bars), forgetting to reciprocate with non-human people, who once cared for them and gave them boundless love.

And if I continue listing all the horrors derived from migration and how Venezuelan society is today, then I would have to make a series of posts, and it would be a very sad, exhausting and hopeless exercise, so I better leave it here.

Well, all of this makes me reflect on the reciprocity and selectivity of people's memories. I mean, these behaviors make me see that while some people require others (be they humans or animals), they treat them relatively well (that is, a certain degree of reciprocity is manifested), but once they are no longer useful to them, they become disposable or annoying, forgetting all the help, love, company and solidarity that one day these others have given them. It is there when I see that reciprocity, otherness, empathy are non-existent, giving rise to evil, selfishness, disdain, indolence, hedonism, among other evils.

I wonder then, how can we do so that people can recover some of that sense of reciprocity and empathy towards others? Well, it is a question to which I do not have a certain or at least satisfactory answer, but I think that it could be done some specific actions, which perhaps (only perhaps), can awaken reciprocity in those who do not have it or do not manifest it. Let's see:

• Reciprocity, like all values, is taught or instilled in childhood; then, there is no need to waste time, and through example, teach children to be reciprocal. It is indispensable not only with this value, but with all the values and principles that form the moral and ethical framework of the youngest. Who can teach this? Mainly parents, representatives and family; but there are also other social institutions, such as the school, the community, the church, groups or social associations. Everything counts, nothing is superfluous, every opportunity is valuable to reciprocally educate the new generations.

• If there is something that has influence within today's society, it is social networks. Their media power and immediate reach to large sectors of humanity, allows them to transmit positive messages, awareness, education and guidance regarding reciprocity, and I insist again, other values as well. The impact that a message, an image, a video can far exceed other ways of training individuals in reciprocity, so it would be great to make reciprocity and other positive values fashionable.

• The constant practice of reciprocity by each person on the planet, or at least by those who want to make it present in their lives and in their way of treating others. All behavior that continues over time becomes a habit, becoming a normal part of human behavior, so why not acquire beautiful habits that show love, empathy, solidarity and reciprocity towards others? Of course, this is something that should start from each one.

Well, and with this I end my reflection, which has led me to be pondering at this time when sleep became elusive... a hug for all!

• These photos are my own, and were taken with a Xiomi REDMI 8 A phone

• The dividers used are courtesy of @eve66 who shares beautiful designs that embellish the layout of our post.

• In case it is required to use the content or images of this post and of my other publications, I would appreciate if you could refer to my authorship (Fabiola Martínez) and cite the corresponding link. Thanks.