From the Editor's Desk: Our Responsibility when Predators Hunt Among Us

While training for the upcoming 3rd annual Macon Music Half Marathon, I've had considerable time to think. Running long distances requires the ability to distract yourself from discomfort and, at times, real pain.

During one of my longer runs at Amerson River Park, I passed a group of bird watchers. I stopped after hearing the distinct call of an owl coming from the woods, accompanied by the chirping of dozens of smaller birds.

I asked the group leader what was happening, surprised to hear an owl's call among the chatter of nuthatches and titmice, especially in the middle of the day.

"That's a recording," he explained. "We play it because the other birds hear the owl and come to make alarm calls, alerting each other that a predator is nearby."

My curiosity satisfied, I continued on my way. But the encounter started me thinking about how birds react to dangerous predators compared to how we humans do.

There are many dangerous people in our society, and they aren't always easy to spot. Psychopaths, sociopaths, narcissists, racists, zealots, bigots, homophobes, xenophobes, and others who carry hate in their hearts can readily excuse all kinds of cruel and violent behavior against others based on their twisted perspectives.

As I continued to run, I realized that sometimes we do act like those birds responding to the owl call. We sound the alarm about dangerous behaviors we observe, drawing the attention of others so they're also aware of the threat nearby. It's why we sometimes see news reports about people losing their jobs for doing something malicious or hateful to someone else that brought about loud outrage from others who observed it.

But recently, it has felt as if cruelty and hate have become more openly expressed against people based on where they were born, their sexuality, or their religion. I fear what our society might become if we allow this type of behavior to become the norm. What kind of darkness would we live in without kindness, gentleness, and grace?

Finishing the exhausting run, I reflected on the fact that the vast majority of us are not coldhearted predators looking to harm others. It is my wholehearted belief that most are seeking to live the best life they can while struggling with whatever battles they are fated to fight.

Now more than ever, it falls to those of us who believe in doing unto others as you would have them do unto you to call out the "predators" when we see them hunting/hurting our families, friends, and neighbors. Otherwise, we risk watching our society become consumed by mistrust and fear, all because we allowed the cruel predators in our midst to harm without calling out to warn of their dangerous behaviors.