Everyone always asks for the same things.
"Try to keep an open mind."
"Don't judge to quickly."
"Hear me out on this."
Perhaps I am mising something, but does this not defeat the purpose of trying to make a statement?
Give me the people who are prejudiced, the ones who jump to conclusions, the people who are stubborn in their views. Those who are willing to hear about things with an "open mind" are already willing to absorb new ideas and change. However, without the prejudiced masses there will never be great change.
"Why can't we all just get along?"
This question both does, and does not bother me. The question and the idea behind it do not bother me at all. What bothers me is both the general public, and my own reaction to this question. For whatever reason it has come to pass that trying to promote peace on a personal level is a 'bad' thing. Perhaps not in theory, but more often than not I've heard those who would ask the above question be shouted down.
Why are we so angry with this question? Are we truly a people who desire conflict so deeply that the idea of peace is repuslive to us? Are we afraid of what peace would mean for our lives? Or could it be that we hear the words, and do not understand what they mean. Could it be that because we do not understand those words we find the task of peace daunting. Isn't it so much easier to stay divided, to promote anger, bigotry, and prejudice.
Take for instance when someone insults you, or slights you in some way. Isn't it easier to cuss at them, or hit them? Isn't it so much harder to smile, two hold your temper, to forgive? Perhaps not, because everyday each and every person that I meet does hold their temper, does smile, does forgive.
Perhaps I am just a dreamer, but that is where I see hope. That, more times than not, left to our own devices we take the peaceful path. Maybe it's not the answer, maybe it's nowhere close to where we could be. But in this small example, perhaps that is where the journey begins.
- Everything I tell you is a Lie -
Alex Star
"Try to keep an open mind."
"Don't judge to quickly."
"Hear me out on this."
Perhaps I am mising something, but does this not defeat the purpose of trying to make a statement?
Give me the people who are prejudiced, the ones who jump to conclusions, the people who are stubborn in their views. Those who are willing to hear about things with an "open mind" are already willing to absorb new ideas and change. However, without the prejudiced masses there will never be great change.
"Why can't we all just get along?"
This question both does, and does not bother me. The question and the idea behind it do not bother me at all. What bothers me is both the general public, and my own reaction to this question. For whatever reason it has come to pass that trying to promote peace on a personal level is a 'bad' thing. Perhaps not in theory, but more often than not I've heard those who would ask the above question be shouted down.
Why are we so angry with this question? Are we truly a people who desire conflict so deeply that the idea of peace is repuslive to us? Are we afraid of what peace would mean for our lives? Or could it be that we hear the words, and do not understand what they mean. Could it be that because we do not understand those words we find the task of peace daunting. Isn't it so much easier to stay divided, to promote anger, bigotry, and prejudice.
Take for instance when someone insults you, or slights you in some way. Isn't it easier to cuss at them, or hit them? Isn't it so much harder to smile, two hold your temper, to forgive? Perhaps not, because everyday each and every person that I meet does hold their temper, does smile, does forgive.
Perhaps I am just a dreamer, but that is where I see hope. That, more times than not, left to our own devices we take the peaceful path. Maybe it's not the answer, maybe it's nowhere close to where we could be. But in this small example, perhaps that is where the journey begins.
- Everything I tell you is a Lie -
Alex Star
VIEW 6 of 6 COMMENTS
celery:
Oh, sorry to give a quick response, it is not my intension to slight your thoughtful entry. I mean I am not sorry. Good questions. Ill say that peace in any form is boring. You know like sleeping in way to long. This is not to say that it isnt good, just a state of nothing happening. I cant deal with it. Violence to me, means change. Cruelty is different. These and other incomplete thoughts.
apelincoln:
Good entry.. makes one rethink alot of things we take for granted. I decided years ago never to utter the following anymore, under any circumstances: "trust me" and "believe me". I have kept that promise so far. I mean, what is the point of saying that to someone? It suggests that they actually DON'T trust/believe you in the first place, which to me means that they just don't know you, or are not on the same level. Either you trust me or you don't. You believe (in) me ..or you don't. I need not MAKE you do either. Thas my opinion. 