Sure, I’ve heard that referred to as your “logical family” (as opposed to your “biological family” ). I have estranged family members, too.
What’s interesting is HC Trumbull’s contrast with the Arabic concept of blood being thicker than milk (from the Wikipedia entry) which seems to be closer to your meaning. I’m not sure if this is referring to people who have fought together or if it’s some kind of “blood brother” ritual, though. Unfortunately, in English the word “blood” is used as a metaphor for family.
In my case, and in the case of some of my friends, family members are just a disappointment while my friends and I have unconditional love for eachother and are even there through the hardest times.
I’m glad that you’ve found friends like this. I don’t understand the appeal of unconditional love, though. I expect that if I turned into a horrible person, my friends’ love for me would go away, and I wouldn’t think any less of them for that.
It seems like your love for your family is conditional upon them not being assholes. I think that’s completely reasonable and appropriate, but why have unconditional love for your friends but not your family? If your friends started treating you the same way your estranged family members have, wouldn’t your love for your friends also cease?
Maybe I’m missing something important about love here. This seems likely, because a lot of people hold the value of unconditional love in high regard and act as though its goodness is so obvious that it doesn’t need to be explained. Perhaps you could tell me how I’m wrong here.
Sure, I’ve heard that referred to as your “logical family” (as opposed to your “biological family” ). I have estranged family members, too.
What’s interesting is HC Trumbull’s contrast with the Arabic concept of blood being thicker than milk (from the Wikipedia entry) which seems to be closer to your meaning. I’m not sure if this is referring to people who have fought together or if it’s some kind of “blood brother” ritual, though. Unfortunately, in English the word “blood” is used as a metaphor for family.
I’m glad that you’ve found friends like this. I don’t understand the appeal of unconditional love, though. I expect that if I turned into a horrible person, my friends’ love for me would go away, and I wouldn’t think any less of them for that.
It seems like your love for your family is conditional upon them not being assholes. I think that’s completely reasonable and appropriate, but why have unconditional love for your friends but not your family? If your friends started treating you the same way your estranged family members have, wouldn’t your love for your friends also cease?
Maybe I’m missing something important about love here. This seems likely, because a lot of people hold the value of unconditional love in high regard and act as though its goodness is so obvious that it doesn’t need to be explained. Perhaps you could tell me how I’m wrong here.