Divided…As Always
Everyone has an opinion. It’s human nature to form an opinion and to stick with it. There has never been a moment in history when everyone in the world agreed in one thing. So why do we think now should be any different?
With the COVID pandemic people are divided between masks or no masks. Everyone has an opinion and in the mind of the opinion holder, they think they are right. It’s human nature to believe you are right.
In a matter of minutes I read two different articles and each one had sound reasons for wearing a mask or not wearing a mask. Both authors were intelligent in their findings. Both had scientific findings for their conclusions. Both believed wholeheartedly that they were right.
But can they both be right?
In a world where white is white and black is black, is there a playground of grey somewhere in the middle?
We live in a world divided over important and not so important issues. Right to lifers shout at pro choicers like they are animals. Evolutionist scoff at creationist as if they are dim witted fable chasers. Environmentalist picket industrialist with signs made with recycled poster boards in hope of a tree hugging conversion. I’ve even seen social posts debating on the proper way to hang your toilet paper, over or under.
We are a civilization divided. We always have and sadly, we always will.
Even the greatest historical figures of our past were not revered by everyone. What do the following people have in common – Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Joan of Arc, Jesus Christ? They are all revered and respected by many today, but they were all assassinated or executed by people who didn’t like them.
We choose sides as if life is a game of middle school dodgeball and we throw slurs at anyone who doesn’t agree with our opinion.
Even if you don’t say it, you definitely think the other side is wrong. Usually with a shaking of your head at the other sides idiotic position and muttering, “Bless your heart.”
We all do it.
We find groups who believe as we do, we all do. We go to church with people who have the same faith, we go to the bars to cheer on the same team, we join PETA or vegan cooking groups to surround ourselves with like minded souls, or what we may call, the right ones.
But why?
You may think you are open minded in your social circles by befriending an atheist, a gun slinger, a naturalist, or God forbid a democrat. But if you search the innermost regions of your heart you will find the same core thought as everyone else, “I’m right and those who don’t agree with me are wrong.”
I wish I could conclude this post with something that would wrap all these thoughts into a nice package with a bow on top, but I can’t. At the end of the day there are once again people who will read this post and some will like it and others won’t. Some will agree and some will think I’m stupid.
Once again, even this meaningless blog post will cause a divide subconsciously.
The only hope I can give is there has always been a divide and there always will. We are no different than the world 2000 years ago. The only change is that we post our thoughts for billions of people to see without a second thought.
In a matter of seconds you can be honored or humiliated by a thousand twitterers.
God help us all, no matter what side of the fence you are on.
Peace.
