Article June 9, 1934 Issue

Signs of the Times

[Editorial in the Halifax Herald, Nova Scotia, Canada]

In a recital of one of his remarkable visions, the Old Testament prophet, Ezekiel, lets us into the secret of how he saw and understood so clearly the needs and aspirations of the people to whom he ministered as priest and leader. "I sat," he says, "where they sat." In other words—he put himself in their place, visualized their life and lot, caught their viewpoint, and faced things from their angle. It has been rightly said that imagination is an invaluable aid in adjusting our social relations.

Many of the worst sins we commit against our neighbor do not take the form of cheating him, defaming him, maiming him, but of not doing him justice; we have not sufficient imagination to put ourselves in his place. Misunderstandings and wrong judgments might often be obviated if we would only walk across the street and, sitting for a while on his doorstep, try to catch his point of view. One writer truly remarks that much of the folly and badness of the world would be prevented if men could but project themselves mentally into the "moment after"; and it is equally true that much that we do that wounds, and much that we say that cuts and stings, would be left undone or unsaid if the "moment before" we could mentally exchange places with the other man.

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