The fire bombing of Republican headquarters in Hillsborough, NC, ironically reminds us of the good that invariably comes out of evil. On hearing the news of this heinous, stupid act of violence, Democrats immediately reached out to the Republicans and went to work to help them, raising $13,000 in a few hours.

Addressing the fire bombing, the Democrats said, “This is not how Americans resolve their differences. We talk, we argue, sometimes we march, and most of all we vote. We do not resort to violence by individuals or by mobs. So, let’s all pitch in, no matter what your party affiliation, and get that office open again quickly.”

Across America and around the world, when bad stuff happens, people have a way of setting aside their differences and pitching in to help. Human decency supersedes that which divides us. Despite being bombarded with hateful rhetoric, something inside us compels us to do good, to help our neighbor. Christians, Muslims, Jews or any particular faith group can’t claim this as unique to them. This is a value that unites all of us.

We saw it in the aftermath of 9/11. We see it now in responses to the devastating effects of Hurricane Matthew. People sacrifice time and money to travel around the world to help people they don’t know and never will see again after their errands of mercy end.

In spite of himself, even Donald Trump, as he spits out his disgraceful invective, smearing women, Latinos, African Americans, war heroes, disabled persons, even the pope, helps us, compelling us revisit our own attitudes and our treatment of women, minorities and anyone different from us.

I believe in the essential good inside all of us. All we need to do is act on it. Mahatma Gandhi said it best. He said, “YOU must be the change you want to see in the world.”

Today’s word: unique. An often abused word. It is not a synonym for beautiful or special or any other adjective that wishes to endow a noun with praise. Unique means the only one of its kind. Notice uni that begins the word. From the Latin, meaning one. It is incorrect to say or write that something is more unique than something else or is the most unique example of something. Meaning one of a kind, unique can’t be used as a comparative.