"It's amazing, 10 years ago, I really didn't hate people like I do now. Never wished bad things to happen, but that has changed and it's sad." -@sinnndy1, on Twitter
I can't help but think that we, as a society have gone terribly wrong somewhere. Look at what I do for a large part of my day: reading twitter posts and sometimes engaging with friendly and not so friendly people. Outrage is everywhere, as is the put-down, the burn, the denunciation. One part of my training as an adult was the Dale Carnegie method to become a good public speaker, and an expert in human relations. His first rule is: "Don't criticise, condemn, or complain". Fine, especially if you are selling something, or just trying to get along or get ahead in business. There are days however, and many of them lately, where my discourse is replete with just these three things.
Nonetheless, peace-making is in my makeup; I believe all people ought to be reconciled one to the other. When there are so many who are dismissive, angry hard-liners it seems a hopeless case. But still I believe in it; and that is one indelible feature of the age: belief. Hundreds of years into the "Age of Reason", we are still believers. I will, in absence of any evidence to the contrary, continue to believe in the power of people to get along, to see in each other a common humanity and a common worth.
There are those who believe in God, there are those who believe that the last US Presidential election "was stolen", there are even those who believe (and we are told about this every single day on the news), that the Democratic Party in the US is a child-sex and murder ring. I cherish some beliefs, like mine in our shared worth as human beings, and reject others, like the two I have just mentioned. Does that make me a better person? A Bible verse from my childhood comes to mind. (Matthew, chapter 7, 15-17)
"Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit."
I will let the reader judge for herself the fruits of the actions of the zealots of our generation.
Hi Dave. Yes, those who use the term "believe", either to state that they DO or to ask DO YOU?, do not realize that they are discussing the use of feelings (an irrational process by definition) to arrive at a conclusion to decide subsequent action. I value intuition highly and love using it but it must be developed by learning fundamental axioms of the particular field one is plowing at the moment. (A very quick example is Flat Earth versus Globe. No person who has studied and practised using the various axioms of physics would "believe" (intuitively conclude) that the Earth is flat. )
ReplyDeleteI am appalled that a person without at least a Masters degree in any Life Science would espouse an opinion on the credibility of the CoVid-19 pandemic. Why do they assume they can use untrained intuition to refute highly educated and experienced public officials?
It is mind-boggling to me and I will listen to wiser and more highly educated people in this area of human behaviour to shape my understanding of this phenomenon which is itself a pandemic in our time.