Whenever I speak to someone of politics, be he informed or ignorant, I seek always to understand his point of view before pressing mine on him, a method which would benefit the learning community greatly if everyone where to put it into practice. Most people, however, are not willing to put aside their arrogant ignorance and attempt this, which is why I absolutely abhor talking about politics, and especially domestic politics. People simply aren't informed about foreign affairs and so they have yet to form opinions, and although people are not really informed about domestic affairs, or are blinded by bias, the point is that everyone thinks they are informed about domestic affairs. They consider themselves informed, and yet they really don't care. Of course, everyone is passionate about something, be it fashion or the War in Iraq, but almost no one looks at the nation as a whole. No natives, that is. Think, if you will, why you think the way you do. Where do you glean information? Why? I think that one can find that this is a useful exercise. Or one can remain in their ignorance.
Most people don't live in the world, they live in their world, which seems to work well for them. They go to work or school or they sit at home. They eat their packaged dinners. They drive their fancy cars. Little else concerns them. Like I said, this seems to work for most people, but it shouldn't work for all people, and it doesn't work for me. I am not content to watch the news or listen to my parent's political views. What I am willing to do is to change. To change my opinion, even if doing so is frightening, and by doing that, to change the world.
All that said, I don't really expect any new developments in your line of thinking.
A New Message
This blog is created for those of you who have a voice and wish to use it. This is not a place for stupidity, it is not a place for either ignorance or arrogance, and it is especially not the place for apathy. This is a place for change. Let us change the world. It will not be easy and it will not be fun, so if either of those are what you might be interested in, take a hike. It won't be entertaining. It is not a project. This is a responsibility. And not just anyone can take that responsibility, even though we are all able, and expected, to carry it. This is the job of those tireless souls who care, and who can't stop caring. This is the duty of those who know, and who won't stop knowing. This is the obligation of those who need, those who need to do more than sit in their tiny pinpoint on the globe and dream small dreams. This is their time, and this is their place. The responsibility of this great changing power is always there, and whether it is taken by evil or good or lazy or porductive, it must fall to someone. That someone must be one who cares, knows, and needs. We care about the world. We know what is happening in our world. We need to change our world for the betterment of mankind. We are not speaking of the betterment of any certain country, people, ideology, race, gender, or religion; we are speaking about mankind. We all share this one common thing; this thing which binds us together. It is called humanity.
What does it mean to be human? It means that not only can we change the world, we are required to.
Friday, February 22, 2008
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2 comments:
I agree that people should be informed, especially if they want to discuss politics with others. But just because someone has strong opinions (however misinformed, or ignorant they are) does not mean they are not open to discussions or changing their mind, especially if new information comes. Maybe they want to discuss simply to see where you stand or to gain new information. I have strong opinions but only because I have no really done to research necessary to change, I do not pretend to be well inform, but I still have strong opinions. This is how I feel about it. I think there is always two sides to every argument (you can’t argue with that ), and that usually except in matters of true doctrine (the gospel and all it’s encompassing parts) that both parties have valid points and concerns. This is just coming from personal experience in trivial and other bigger matters that I have come across in my life. As far as your argument that everyone should be as well inform as say you or anyone else well informed, this would be the ideal, however I do not think that is everyone’s role. The surgeon I hope would spent more time studying the human anatomy than foreign policy. Some people should dedicate most of their time and effort into the these things, and that is why we vote. We have to trust others to make our decisions for us “every-day” people. The beauty and horror of democracy.
Side Note:
The way I see it every nation in history has tried to overcome the human predicament and find the “ideal Utopian society” the best way we know how. This debate on whose culture, and standards of living are better will never stop (until the celestial kingdom). I do believe there is a perfect way to run a society and a people. We just can’t reach it as mortals.
While these are valid arguments, what one must realize is that I am speaking of those who press their ideas onto other people arrogantly and ignorantly. I am saying that those who shoulder this responsibility for being in the know about domestic and foreign affairs, or those who profess to be in the know about such things, should be as open minded as possible. Those who only profess to know, whose opinions are strong but unfounded, are those to whom I made my address.This is not acceptable to me because of their arrogant ignorance. And now we're talking in circles.
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