Many of the difficulties encountered when we try to reason with people who hold views different from ours arise not from flawed logic (on either side), but rather from what story, or sometimes rather who, you believe. This seems to be applicable to both local and world politics.
It’s not about who you agree with, It’s often about who you believe, or who you choose to believe.
Although I have my personal beliefs, as hard as this is for me, I am trying to see and understand the apparent validity of the opposite position taken by a considerable percentage of our population.
The more that I look, the more I see that people’s beliefs about human nature predisposes them to sometimes either accept or deny that which in more normal times might be considered to be factual evidence, on both sides.
If wisdom is that which is gained through experience, then it becomes of paramount importance for us to create examples rather than arguments for our particular stances on these subjects, and have faith in the ability of the human spirit to rise to the occasion and recognize that which is right for them.
My mind keeps wanting to argue that which seems obvious to me, but this doesn’t seem to work. I see the same obstinateness coming from proponents with other views of what is real.
The true work, then, must be to find something deeper, that which both sides must agree upon.
The Dalai Lama has said that we all share a desire to be happy. Perhaps if the attention is drawn away from the arguments of the head, and towards the feelings of our hearts, we might find some common ground, and find compassion for each other.
Based on this commonality, perhaps the seeds of something new might grow.
Perhaps the option of a meeting where both sides can agree may present answers to the impasse at which we currently find ourselves.
What would Jesus Do?, or, What would Buddha Do?, … Fill in the blank and use your own Spiritual example that works for you…!
Music
“If there’s a World here in 100 years, one of the main reasons will be Music.
It can leap over barriers of politics, and leap over barriers of religion and race, and people who never thought they’d be doing the same thing together will be listening and joining in, on the same song.”
- Pete Seeger
Namaste,
Daniel
