# My Philosophy Poem by Jim Yerman

What kind of society have we become? Is this the start of our demise?
When so many people for no reason berate and criticize?

What good is criticizing just to criticize? Does it help the human race?
How does anger, spite and bitterness make the world a better place?

People have become aggressive as they take to the internet’s streets
Hiding behind the anonymity of their hahstags and their tweets.

While sitting safely behind their devices without a thought or care in the world
Insults can be tossed out, people bullied...obscenities hurled.

They are aggressive, contentious and hostile as these abuses and barbs they throw
I’m not sure why in a world that needs kindness they choose to let anger flow.

It must be easier to say hurtful things, to forget that manners should apply,
Than it is to be kind, and generous, but for the life of me I don’t know why.

Our language is filled with words of love and caring, words that often bear repeating.
Words of friendship, support and tenderness, these are the words we should be tweeting.

If my parents were alive today I know they’d be appalled
For I was taught if I have nothing good to say, I should say nothing at all.

As I was composing this I thought to myself, surely it’s foolish to be devising
A poem that criticizes the people criticizing!

But when a person criticizes to be hurtful, mean or cruel
When they don’t think of other people’s feeling, it is that person who’s the fool.

I agree with the Dalai Lama who says what a wonderful world this would be
If helping others was our goal and kindness... # my philosophy.