It's easy to love someone when they're at their best, but Sometimes the hardest thing to do is love someone when they're at their worst.
When I was a child, I read a lot of books, and I remember distinctly a bunch of Chinese concept emphasizing that of supporting the weak, those who can't help themselves. Help the poor; tend to the sick; listen to the old; when you see the rich, cruel landlord/ restaurant owner being nasty to the poor sick person, you should know who to help. There seemed to be a bunch of deeds in Chinese textbooks about this hero named 雷锋, or Lei Feng. Later on, I found out that this Lei Feng was a fictional character based on a real person used by the Chinese Communist Party to spread propaganda and boast about Mao, the Communist leader. Still, the acts by Lei Feng and other Chinese heros personified the altruistic, selfless person that I wish to be and don't come close to fulfilling, but at least I try sometimes.The term "活雷锋/Huó Léi Fēng" (literally "living Lei Feng") has become a noun (or adjective) for anyone who is seen as selfless, or anyone who goes out of their way to help others. (According to wikipedia). Lei Feng apparently died in service to his country at the age of 22. I feel like it's pretty cowardly of a government or leaders to use propaganda of young people dying in the line of duty to justify their own actions. Sometimes military celebrations, while worthwhile to remember those who passed away defending the country, are abused by governments in this manner (ahem, US government).
Because of Lei Feng, I dislike trying to get into the "popular group" that looks down upon the loners and outcasts of society. Even when it's popular to get on the bandwagon and join the cool crowd, I've always try to go the other way and befriend the weakest in society, the guy isolated in the room by himself looking for a friend. To me, this was always second nature, partly a.) I'm one of those isolated people too, so I'm looking for a partner in crime, and b.) I find the popular people already have enough friends and plenty of people waiting to talk to them, so there's more utility for everyone involved to go talk to someone who doesn't have anyone's attention yet. Seems logical to me, but this is actually not the case in regular society: At parties, everyone gravitates towards the center of attention (or the hottest guy or girl at the bar/ club) despite everyone else wanting the same thing. People don't want to be seen as the loser or (almost as bad) the guy talking to the loser, and it becomes a chain reaction of events.
I find that relationship goes by the same concept. Most people are really fun and easy to get along with at their best (they've had alcohol, they're in a great mood, or they're trying to put on their best face at a party to impress other people). Whatever the reason, most people have good times in which they're the best version of themselves, but then they become insufferable when they are at their bad times. For most people we don't have to deal with that, we just go our separate ways. But for family and people you know very well, and especially significant other, it becomes imperative that you get to know their worst times, and be able to weather the storm, get past the obstacle, whatever you want to call it. That's real love, is not just being there at the really nice times, anyone can just go and try to fit in and be in the popular group, but it takes real love and dedication to be there when someone is at their weakest. The popular person doesn't need any more reinforcement that they're liked, but the loner by himself is in need of someone, anyone, to give them a boost, and the utility is so much higher to try to improve that person's mood. Same with someone who's at the worst time in their life: They need that love and attention much more when they're the crankiest and hardest to deal with, much more than when they're easy to deal with. It's a hard paradox to overcome, but we should all keep that in mind.
Other situations of sticking up for the weak:
1.) taking care of parents when they get old and sick- the ultimate measure of a successful human people, the familial loyalty.
2.) having faith when you're on a team with a player who's struggling, confident that they will break out of their slump and be great again.
3.) politics.... very common (as you see with current American politics, Communist politics, and basically every government system in history) to align with the weak because there are simply more people who are at the bottom of society and more fire to try to get into the top part of society or get back ta them then vice versa.
4.) Picking where you sit at the school lunch cafeteria and essentially "marking your colors" whether you're in the popular crowd or the loser crowd. It really takes some courage to talk to the person who's by themselves with NO crowd around them.
Some guys in fantasy baseball who are weak who you should pick up for the September stretch run:
1.) Scooter Gennet.....started with limited playing time this season but still already has 22 HRs, 76 RBIs, and a .290 avg? At 2nd base? In a great home ballpark?
2.) Charlie Morton......he's old, he's in the AL, he doesn't have a history of success.......but he's just been a different, excellent pitcher this year in a down year for pitchers. Get.
3.) Aaron Hicks.....batting in 2nd spot in loaded Yankee lineup......a huge run is coming, I can feel it.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
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