This seems to be a lesson as old as time, but one we keep forgetting. It is this divided world, we must remember the “6” or “9” idea. Both can be right depending on your viewpoint and experiences. Both parties can be right and both parties can be different.
Have you ever ran into this in your own life? I know I have. It can be very difficult to understand that someone with a different, and often contrary, opinion to yours could be correct as well. Try to remember the “6” or “9” principle next time you run into this problem.
Last post we discussed the seeds of division being sown by those in power. Many people have found themselves attached to a group they joined with the noblest intentions, only to find that group is now propagating hate, division and even violence against others. The sad part is they are sticking with that group because in a world that seems so polarized, it has become a part of their identity. They fear if they now agree that the group they belong to has gone too far, it will negatively reflect on them. It is up to those of us who do not belong to that group of hate to assure them that they do not have to remain part of such a cult. By stepping away they will not let anyone down. It is the group they supported that have let them, and so many others down. They have done so by spouting lies, twisting facts and doing their best to pit neighbor against neighbor. They do this to make it easier to control those in the group.
I would like you to read and ponder the poem above that was written during world war two. In today’s political climate, you could be in a group that is being persecuted. By pointing your fingers at your neighbors and blaming them for all of the world’s ills, you may have nobody left to support you should you ever be the victim of hate. Those neighbors could be in your neighborhood, or on the other side of the globe. Understand it is not your neighbors that are the problem. It is the leaders your neighbors are following. They are looking to distract you with hate and division in order to fulfill their agenda.
Think of this example with the ants. Then ask yourself, who is shaking the jar that has caused my own prejudice? What is their benefit for having me hate my fellow human? Do you get to know people without asking their beliefs? Even if your reason for hate is something as shallow as how someone looks, have you ever given yourself the chance to get to know them before judging them? The amount of things that we can learn and benefit from each other that we would lose if we fail put our hate aside is not only a shame, it is a disgrace. When we subscribe to these artificial reasons for hate and division, we have become pawns and puppets for those seeking to control our mind and way of thinking.
This was brought to my attention listening to the song Coming in from the cold, by Bob Marley. That is where the lyrics above come from. It can be the system that makes us hate our brothers (and sisters). It can, as the lyrics states, even make us kill them. This we have unfortunately seen far too much of lately. Political violence is not only a tragedy, it is asinine. You are committing a crime, and ending a life, for someone who not only does not know who you are, but could care less who you are. That person, though they may differ from you in beliefs or culture, often share the same struggles. They are trying to raise a family. They are trying to afford food, shelter and other needs. Whether you are committing a violent act, or simply filling your heart with hate, you have become a victim of the system.
It is only through working together, as human brothers and sisters, that we can solve any problem. It is through compassion, compromise, and understanding that we can coexist. This may sound like a fairytale in today’s world. That is what some would like you to believe. It is not that far away, and it must start with each and every one of us. Learn to accept someone’s differences. Learn to be a good neighbor. Learn to show compassion. Learn to compromise. Learn to understand instead of judge. When we do so, we are coming in from the cold and we can put those that seek to divide us out in the cold where they belong.
Look at the two gentleman in this photo. One is myself, one is my good friend Montell. Ok, there is also a guy unwillingly photobombing in the back, but let us focus on the two up front. Montell is wearing a Chicago Cubs baseball team hat. I am wearing a Milwaukee Brewers jersey. As this post is published, they are playing against each other in the baseball playoffs. It is a great team rivalry. I am also wearing a Green Bay Packers hat. The local football team. Montell is a big fan of their rival, the Chicago Bears. We are of different nationalities and have different skin colors. If I were to think a little harder, I am sure there are other differences that could be pointed out between us.
Why am I pointing out these obvious facts? Let me answer that by sharing one more fact with you. If you were to ask me to tell you about Montell, what would follow might take a while. None of it would consist of what I told you in the paragraph above. What I would tell you is that he is an amazing father, a great husband to his wife Tanya, a great friend, a compassionate understanding fellow to strangers he meets and one charismatic and talented entertainment with the microphone in his hand. There are more great things I could tell you, but I will just conclude by telling you that he is someone I hold in high regard.
I also forgot to mention that we drink the same kind of beer. It so impresses people that it is now the number one selling beer in the country. The second part of that statement is true, not sure if it has anything to do with Montell and me, other than our purchases of it. What is the point of the fact that I hold someone who shares so many differences with me, some like the sports teams could be opposite, in such high regard? It is the fact that it is possible. Those in political power would have us believe that Montell and I should not like each other. At the very least, that I should not hold him in such high regard. This has to be one of the stupidest trains of thought.
You might want to sit down because I am about to tell you something that just might blow your mind. Two people can have different, often conflicting, beliefs and opinions and still respect each other and hold each other in high regard. This should not be news worthy. With the demonization of political rivals, people of different races or that come from different places, we seem to be regressing. This was a popular sentiment in 1930’s Germany. It did not end well. It is up to us to not fall for such ‘black or white’ ‘us verses them’ mentality. There is a great truth in the cliche of “Divide and conquer.” By turning us against each other, we are easier to control and manipulate. If you find yourself a part of such a group, or following a person who actively promotes hating someone different than you, work to get out of it. We will touch on how to do that a little more in tomorrow’s post.
When I think what a great friend and person in Montell that I would have lost out in knowing, I can’t help but pity those who fall for such division. Yes, I did say “fall for”. You cannot lump all people of a certain category, whether that is race or astrological sign, together. Each person is an individual and has their own story and set of experiences. My grandfather used to tell me, if you hate someone, you just do not know enough about them. You will never convince me to hate an entire group of people. Not only am I not foolish enough to believe that an entire group of people have no good people in them. Nor am I foolish enough to believe that someone is less than, or that I have to hate them simply because they belong to a different political party, have a different color of skin or are different than me in any other way. I encourage you to come back tomorrow to learn more about reclaiming a peaceful and loving world.
How easy is it to get sucked into the divisive and hate fueled ways of the world today? Sadly, far too easy. What we should focus on is our legacy. What will the world remember about us? Will we be part of a group that rallied against another, or will we be a person who shows others kindness, compassion and understanding? That is the choice we have to make. Not only daily, but often hourly in this crazy world. We may slip, but it is important to keep working our hardest to be a ray of light in a world that can often be far too dark.
We daily have a choices. Will we be a person who sows division or unity? Will will feed communal anger or strive for individual joy? Understand the former may get you accolades from those around you at the time. Choosing to go against the grain and be a light can not only prevent you from the cheers of those seeking to divide the world, but can leave you feeling ostracized and cast out. Relish the fact. Use that solitude to think of the legacy you will leave behind. If you have brightened the life of just one person, you have done more than all of those pushing the narrative of ‘us against them’. It may leave you lonely. It may leave you feeling left out. It may not always be easy, but it will always be right.
In the United States, today is election day. It seems every four years when we choose the leader of our country things get more tense and divided than the election before. Civility and respect tend to disappear and are all too often replaced by things such as insults and in the worst case violence.
Win or lose, this last year has been tough on all of us. There has been,of course, a terrible pandemic that has affected everyone in the world in some fashion. There have been losses, both financial and of life. Dreams have been shattered and lives turned upside down.
With all of these trying circumstances, you would think it would help feed feelings of compassion and a desire to help each other. I believe that is yet to come. Although we may differ greatly on the paths to take, I believe we all want the same things. We would like an end to the pandemic. We would like an opportunity to pursue our dreams and see our friends and family again. We would like to see the smiles behind the masks once more.
Our plan forward
While we cannot force things to change, there are certainly things we can do until that happens. We can fill our hearts with hope for s better future and for it to arrive sooner than later. We can pray, whatever our faith may be. We can pray for the health of the world. We can pray for the healing of our, and other’s hearts. In the meantime we can fill our lives and our world with as much joy as possible.
It is our love and compassion for each other than has not only helped us get through the most difficult times, but has lead to the greatest breakthroughs and advances in history. In a world that often seeks to divide us, let our love be stronger than their division.
SECRET 2 AN AMAZING LIFE 