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talking to myself

A blog by markdohle in General

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To create straw men and women

markdohle

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To create straw men and women

Community life of any kind is difficult, or another way to say it would be, if there are two or more people living or working together, there will be some level of struggle between them. It helps if those who belong to a community share the same values, though the difficulties will always be there. Some groupings are forced more or less. Going to school, being in the military, the work place of course, or perhaps the most difficult situation, being in some sort of prison, are examples of ‘communities’ were there may be no central core to allow on some level some sort of deep communication. Of course forced communities do not least long, unless one is in prison for a long period of time with others who can’t leave.

In our world today, as our ability to communicate expands, where news is instant, our sense of place changes, as well as for many, community. No matter what kind of community one belongs to, one freely entered into, or one forced by circumstances, there can arise many problems, many of which seem insurmountable.

In any group there will be a left, right and middle. This goes for all political parties, in religions and yes in communities no matter how small they are. People are just different, an obvious fact, but this palpable truth does little in helping many communities towards some kind of peace. Of course the fighting is normal and perhaps needed. The issue becomes serious when sides are taken and then there is only shouting, avoidance, or outright violence.

Many of us live in a world populated by straw-men and women, stereotypes that are easily dealt with and shelved. No one likes being made into straw. An image other than the one being attacked and then beaten over the head with simplistic prejudices that have no real depth, or bearing, for the one having the stuffing beaten out of them, for discounting only leads to further anger and rage.

An atheist for many theists is evil and selfish, godless and should not be trusted. Theists for atheist are simple minded, irrational and weak, who need to grow up. Muslims for many are all warlike and evil, and should not be trusted. For many Muslims I guess it is the same in what they say about Christians. No one likes being ‘straw’, yet I would say most of us are good at creating others into that image.

If we don’t actually see each other and at least seek to listen and to understand, then our wars will get worse, our hatreds deeper and our sense of being right stronger and more self righteous….until one day it will all end with a whimper after a big bang.

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Mikko-kun

Mikko-kun 1,029

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It's easy to do this stuff over the internet because there's an abundance of people and you dont face the other person but your computer screen instead. But I think it's not just that, I see the same stuff in my life too, people around me doing it to each others. Nobody's perfect, we all have our troubles, but we shouldn't try to put ourselves nor each others down. It's easy to lose the respect, and can be very hard to regain it. Or impossible... some things may seem small but when it's time to say I'm sorry it suddenly becomes very hard. You dont know it before you've been there on that side, I've wronged others and apologized to my best extent, and I'm no less fallible to this than any other person.

People have great sides, at least potential, sides they might not show always, sometimes not yet evolved to that point, but they're there. It's not that hard to respect someone you disagree with, all it takes is some self-respect because you demean yourself when you demean the other. There's an empathic part in all of us we just can't shake away, even psychopaths undoubtedly have this I believe. When we violate that empathy it's disheartening. You can only keep doing that if you can keep yourself that low, feeling that low.

This empathic part may feel like a burden and bother when you argue with others, but it's just a little voice reminding you that you're a good person, reminding you to be considerate. You can try make yourself believe you dont have it, but if you dont really have it, you could live as if you were in a paradise and not be bothered by anyone. But if your reactions tell different, then you're fooling no one.

In other words, if you dont act like you're trouble, then you are not troubled. But if you must raise a storm and an argument against another person, then there's already a storm inside you. It might just not be easy to see until you see what exactly it is.

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