The items found on this blog were written during the past few years and strictly reflect my own opinions. Because these articles deal with difficult issues they are bound to be controversial. They reflect my personal analysis based on the limited information that I have. I am certainly no expert and fully respect different opinions. Difficult issues would not be difficult if there were clear-cut answers. Although you will see in reading some of my material, I don't like being pigeonholed with a label, I will admit to being politically independent with a tendency to be more conservative fiscally and slightly more liberal with regard to social issues. Having lived through the 1940's, I have a great appreciation for the sacrifices made by our armed forces and, in fact, all Americans during World War II. The greatness of this country shone bright as we rehabilitated and rebuilt our enemies after winning that war. I am very patriotic and proud of our country. While we are far from perfect, we're not as far from that ideal as most other countries in the world.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

"A Gold Key"

 


“A Gold Key”


With the 2014 election just a few days off, there are many anxious to see change in the politics of the U.S. Senate.  Regardless of which party you support, those who have followed the news are keenly aware that something is amiss In Washington.  Political infighting and corruption have been the hallmarks of the national scene in recent years.  There has been virtually no progress made by a congress frozen in time by a do nothing senate, a stonewalling majority leader and an administration that has failed to lead.

Update 11/5/2014

I began writing this before the election but due to other intervening matters didn’t get very far.  I now continue after the election with the satisfaction of knowing that many others apparently shared my concerns.

My intention was not to publish a political opinion but rather to use this example to emphasize a concept that I have previously mentioned but now wish to further expand upon.   It’s summed up in the age-old question of why one person sees a glass as half full while another sees it as half empty.  How can two people simultaneously view an event and have totally opposite impressions of what happened?  Questions of this kind are often points of confusion for juries dealing with trial testimony.  Two eyewitnesses to a crime can have conflicting impressions of what transpired.  In political matters, politicians and political commentators routinely manipulate opinions.  “Spin” is the term applied to the practice of twisting facts in a less than totally honest way to manipulate opinions and influence voters.  Politicians frequently slip from spin to outright lying, hence the joke question – “How can you tell when a politician is lying”?  Answer – “His lips are moving”.

I’m merely using yesterday’s election and current events to underscore the idea that we each have our own view of reality and that individual “subjective realities” are far more significant to our everyday lives than absolute reality, if in fact such a thing actually exists.

I believe that this construct of reality could become the “Gold Key” that could unlock the door to greatly improved human relationships, respect, tolerance and understanding.  The idea is really simple.  If we all accept the idea that there are multiple versions of reality, perhaps as many as there are people on earth, then we can also reject the notion of there being an absolute reality that everyone should accept and be guided by.  In other words, be o.k. with the idea that others think differently than you.  Don’t be threatened with the knowledge that others have different viewpoints, different political philosophies and different religions.  Don’t feel a need for others to agree with you in order for your opinions to be validated. Have no driving compulsion to change anyone else’s ideas so they see the world as you do.  Be comfortable with the way you see things but also respect the way others see things, even though their views may be totally different from yours.  While such a view may not be the cure all for the world’s problems, it could go a long way in that direction.  Wouldn’t it be great if Muslims didn’t subscribe to instructions in the Koran to either convert the infidels to Islam or kill them?  Wouldn’t it be great if political opponents could disagree without expressing contempt and in some cases even hatred for each other?  Wouldn’t it be great if we could all accept the subjective realities of others without feeling a need to proclaim them as wrong or ill informed?  A view of reality which rejects the notion of their being only one true absolute reality in favor of many valid subjective realities may be a “Gold Key” important to the long-term survival of our species.

I began with a somewhat political statement which reveals part of my own subjective reality.  You may have a totally opposite viewpoint and believe that Harry Reid has been the best Senate Majority Leader in years and that Barack Obama has been one of the best leaders ever to occupy the White House.  If we are able to respect those divergent viewpoints as part of our respective subjective realities, there should be no conflict.  It’s when one or the other feels compelled to proclaim the other wrong, ignorant or worse that conflict often ensues.  On a personal level, this conflict often runs a brief course and is rapidly resolved.  However, on a larger scale involving many people, nations or ideologies, battles can rage for years, even centuries. 
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