"There is no such thing as a bad boy": Igniting compassion for problematic behavior.
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Pat Friman |
TEDxOmaha
• February 2021
Time to ignite compassion. Especially, says Dr. Pat Friman, in a world where we are faced with circumstances beyond our control, that may cause us, and those around us to react in ways we would not normally. In the words of Father Flanigan founder of Boys Town when the community were quick to condemn the bad behavior of roaming bands of orphan boys plaguing the city, he said, “there are no bad boys, only bad environment, bad training, bad example, bad thinking” therefore it is the bad circumstances that causes the behavior. This circumstantial view of problematic behavior seeks to fix the problem not blame the person, because the cause is unknown. We don’t know what the proverbial ‘baby in the backseat’ might be, and we don’t know what is causing the behavior. Time to show compassion and take that first step to change. Compassion ignited civilization, it is time to follow the example of some of the greatest human beings throughout time, who have shown compassion towards those who have sought to harm and hurt.