Now, the world don’t move to the beat of just one drum. What might be right for you may not be right for some. A man is born, he’s a man of means. Then along come two, they got nothing but their jeans.

Everybody’s got a special kind of story. Everybody finds a way to shine. It don’t matter that you go not a lot, so what. They’ll have theirs, and you’ll have yours, and I’ll have mine. And together we’ll be fine.

Because it take Diff’rent Strokes to move the world. Yes it does.

Yes, those are the lyrics to the theme song of the 80’s sitcom Diff’rent Strokes. Don’t ask me why I started thinking about the theme song of Diff’rent Strokes the other day, but the lyrics really struck me. Is there anybody out there who thinks these lyrics send a bad message? No, almost nobody does. So why do people become incensed when you suggest that it would be better if people actually lived that way?

Why do people do that? They know they can’t deny that it is the more peaceful way to live and that the world would be better that way, but there’s a fear. They’re afraid to let go. And it’s not even that they’re afraid to trust people—they put unfailing faith in government (usually their own utopian view of government). They’re afraid of letting go of a belief they’re held for years and years and possibly even many decades.

Let’s help these people. I know it’s difficult to be patient sometimes, but people respond well to patience and kindness. Let them know that the people who want them to let go are good and peaceful—people who understand what might be right for you may not be right for some…