It is easy to think of Herod as a monster. Only a monster could kill innocent children, right? But then I think of our own history as a nation. We glorify the Pilgrims — yet because of racism and greed for land within two generations the native peoples of New England were all but wiped out. Of course, even before the Mayflower slaves were being imported into what is now the United States. How can basically decent human beings participate in such atrocities? I believe it happens when we treat those who are different from us as “the other.” The way to make sure that we do not perpetuate structural evil is by coming to know “the other” not as a group but as individuals, by name.
