Definition: When a Snake bites, its venom produces the sensation of Heat.
Relation to Ourselves: So when an Individual (or group of individuals) exhibits behavior under the guise of the Snake, their words or actions produce the sensation of heat within us.
Example: When we hear “Hate Speech” it elicits a response within us wherein our blood pressure rises and we become angry and/or infuriated. This can also occur when we witness or hear about a disparaging act or other crime against humanity.
Intention: Though it may be nothing more than someone’s freedom of expression, or worse-a truly horrific act; The net intended result is too illicit a reciprocal expression or response from others.
Combat: We combat this by squelching the heat, by diverting from the general to the specific. By bringing cold to the heat.
Example: When Sodom was to have been destroyed, Abraham diverted the “Commitment of Sins” from all of the inhabitants to those 10 inhabitants that were righteous. So Abraham diverted the general negative conception of all the inhabitants to the positive attributes of a specific few.
When we return to our example of hate speech, we find that we can combat this by pointing out the positive traits of the target. If someone is being heckled by protesters, we may request that the speaker continue speaking-an indication that the content of the speech is of interest.
End Note: We must stand firmly and openly for the freedom of the down trodden, focusing attention on the positive attributes of everyone.