for me personally i think it is a stong desire to treat everyone how I wish to be treated, and a strong respect for life.

it's a miracle we are here to begin with.

So it sounds like one of the universal traits here is humility. People treating others like equals, like they want to be treated, etc. There is also a spiritual/humanistic aspect, that we all deserve to be treated well because we are the same and/or connected.

Is this teach-able, is it born-in, or does one have to find it in your own life, do you think?

To be perfectly selfish, I acknowledge that to harm others actaully causes more violence to myself than my target.

Also, I have been the target of extreme violence at the hands of a few people. Yet, the number of people who have shown me nurturing, generosity, love, encouragement, trust, acceptance and forgiveness is large and growing. I prefer to dwell in that group of people.

I have observed both groups. The strong, "win-at all-costs" " end -justfies- the- means" group always seems unhappy and frustrated, even during apparent success.

The passive, accepting group seems content, even under stress.

And in my experience, projecting an open, trusting countenance repels violence. I rarely fear people, no matter how menacing they appear and I find I am almost always treated kindly and gently by most people.

In fact, recently, a homeless man insisted on buying me an umbrella from the 99 cent store because it was raining and I was wet. I tried to refuse but he insisted. I offered to pay for it . He said "It's only a dollar , lady!"