On Being Nice

I don't believe in being nice.

Being kind?  Yes.  

Being fair?  Absolutely.  

Friendly?  Of course.

Polite?  Yes, please.

Merciful?  Yes.  Honest?  Great.  Moral?  You bet.  Pleasant?  Yeah.  Good?  Sure.  Likeable?  By all means.  Happy?  If only we all could.

But nice is different.  "She's so nice," you hear.  What does that mean?  Usually it means one of the above, but sometimes, being nice isn't really being nice.

Nice is passive.  Nice can be dishonest.  Nice is sometimes a nice façade behind which we hide ourselves.  Nice lies.  Nice tricks.  Nice doesn’t stand up for what is right, what is needed.

Nice turns a blind eye.

Nice hurts you, and it hurts others.

Nice allows a boy to paw your daughter unimpeded.  Nice leads sheep into a dangerous gulley.  Nice keeps prejudice uncalled on.  Nice keeps corruption in power.  Nice doesn’t teach assertiveness--standing up for your rights without trampling on others’.  Nice keeps wisdom quiet.  Nice is a cork that makes perfectly decent people periodically blow up into raging lunatics.  Nice causes depression, promotes injustice.  It hides truth behind its shining, opaque windows. 

Nice causes shame to outraged hearts.  Nice creates guilt in those attempting to do things right.  Nice stands up people’s valid expectations.  Nice keeps busy people too busy.  Nice creates irresponsible and ill-prepared children.  Nice doesn’t notice the wolf’s feet beneath the sheepskin.  Nice goes along with, shuts up, votes blindly.

Nice is not always nice.