Sylwia,

Okay, let me see if I can give you an answer…

First of all, I don’t think Tony was actually bringing the concept of mercy into the BSS discussion; he was responding to Laura’s comment that it would be interesting to come up with a list of things that have no price tag attached to them. Portia’s lines were a good illustration of the notion that mercy comes as freely as rain upon us and in turn we learn to give it as freely as it is given to us. (Tony, correct me please if I mistake either your meaning or that of Shakespeare!)

This of course begs the question about the definition of mercy and rather than give a direct dictionary quotation, I’ll combine a few elements that I understand to be the meaning of the word mercy: it is a disposition to forgive or be kind, in which the kindness may be in excess of what might be expected; mercy implies both forbearance and compassion. So mercy in English has a different quality than either charity (giving to those in need) or love…

Which brings me then to try to respond to your following thought: While love is a mutual gift. It should be always given freely and with equal strength by both parties, otherwise one party is abusing the other…

I’ll give you one example in which love is not necessarily a mutual gift, nor is it given with equal strength…A mother’s love for her child(ren) is often very one sided…the love has to be constant and it is given in a manner that far exceeds the child’s ability to return it, the love exists though, no matter the lack of response. Naturally you may argue that you mean adult love, and in my mind this still holds. We often have to give love in a measure that is beyond what another adult can give at times; it is the bond that holds our relationships together, for without the willingness to continue love, the ties break easily. If one loves despite its mutual return though, then the bonds remain, upholding the relationship.

Well, obviously my opinion is just that…what I’ve said certainly doesn’t encompass all thought on this issue. I hope others will freely share what they think too.

Helen