Scrolling through my feed today was a lot. One video claimed a specific group is plotting a global takeover, another warned that people from a certain country are “stealing all the jobs,” and a third was convinced a specific religion is “invading” Europe. Honestly, it felt like my brain was being hit with a 4K resolution version of the Dark Ages. It’s heavy, confusing, and, let’s be real, exhausting. As usual, I started digging into old stories to see if mythology or history had anything to teach me.
Iranyan and Prahaladan
Reading about Iranyan, I see a father who turned his power into a massive ego-trap, demanding everyone, especially his own kid, be a carbon copy of his tyranny. But then there’s Prahaladan. Even though he was raised in that shadow, he didn’t let his father’s “villain tendencies” define his life. It makes me realize that even if a father, a family, or a whole society goes down a dark path, there is always a chance for individuals to bear the light and lead the way back.
Ravana and Vibhishana
Then there’s Vibhishana, who lived in a palace of pure arrogance with his brother, Ravana. He could have just played along because “blood is thicker than water,” but he listened to his gut instead. He realized that being loyal to your brother shouldn’t mean you’re obligated to participate in his mistakes. Leaving his home wasn’t about “betraying his people”; it was about realizing that being born into a group doesn’t mean you’ve signed a contract to support their wrongdoings.
The Realization
Through these stories, I’m starting to see that a family’s shadow, a country’s past, or a religion’s reputation doesn’t have to be a follower’s future. Judging a whole subset of people because of the actions of a few, or the past, feels like a glitch in human logic. It ignores the fact that every single person has the power to be decent on their own. Just like a lotus grows in muddy water but stays clean, integrity is something we build ourselves. Our background is just the soil we grew from; where we actually bloom is a choice we make on our own.
The Reality Check
So, here I am, finishing up my deep, soulful scribble about not judging people by their “subset,” feeling all enlightened and wise. Then, right on cue, my wife yells that it’s time to get the kids ready for school. Naturally, my “sovereignty of the soul” evaporates instantly. I find myself snapping:
“Ugh! Everyone in this family is exactly like this! No one let me have five minutes to myself!”
he irony hits me harder than my self-enlightened realization. One minute I’m a philosopher shielding the world from unfair generalizations, and the next, I’m basically a total hypocrite
Even if I’m currently failing my own moral test by generalizing the people around me, I’m learning a tough lesson: the hardest place to stop 'generalizing' isn’t on a random YouTube comment section. It’s right here in the house with the people I love, in the cubicle with my coworkers, and on the field with my friends. What matters most is keeping my heart aimed where I want to be and hoping the waves of life guide me toward it.