More and more I think people are generally good. Growing up, my father (who grew up in Iran) told me many parables from Persia. One of the ones that sticks out to me the most goes like this:
Back in the days when cities had walls around them, a very old blind man sat at the city gate and begged for alms. One day, a traveller came to the gates and asked the old man, "Sir, I have been travelling for many days. Tell me, what sort of people live in this city?"Abraham Lincoln may have said it best: "If you look for the bad in people expecting to find it, you surely will."
"Son, what kind of people live in the city you are coming from?"
"Oh, people are very bad where I come from. It's hard to find work and people are always looking for ways to pull their neighbors down. I don't believe I've found one honest man in my city. That's why I've come here - looking for a place that's different."
The old man's face became sad. "I'm sorry," he replied. "I believe you'll find people here to be the same." The young man continued on in his search - determined to find a better place.
Later on that same day, another traveller came to the gates and asked the old man, "Sir, I have been travelling for many days. Tell me, what sort of people live in this city?"
"Son, what kind of people live in the city you are coming from?"
"Oh, the city I come from has people who are second to none on Earth. Everyone looks for ways to help each other. I don't believe I've met one unhappy man in my entire city. That's why I've come here - to see if people like that exist anywhere else."
The old man's face broke into a smile. "Welcome," he replied. "I believe you'll find people here to be the same."
I have found the people here to be some of the most generous and welcoming people anywhere I have travelled to. I will miss their easy laughter and thoughtful questions. But most of all I will thank them for an added dimension to my own perspective that I will take with me forever.
