The War Of Kindness We used to live side by side with open doors or perhaps no doors at all. Friends were like family. Loyalty was not a matter of opinion; it was an unquestionable fact. So how did everything change? Is it ignorance that divides us? Does ignorance fuel conflict? Does it breed betrayal? In a world that evolves and progresses every moment, ignorance continues to spread relentlessly. To protect ourselves, many adopt the mindset that everyone is untrustworthy until proven otherwise. This mindset is deeply unfortunate. What remains clear to me is that life is challenging for all of us. Each person carries their own struggles and battles, often invisible to others. So why do we add to one another’s difficulties? Why can we not choose to be a positive force in someone else’s life? After all, everyone is fighting their own battles. Kindness, once our greatest strength, now seems to be perceived as a weakness. -Yasmina Zaytoun-