YELL’N SHOUT
11/18/2022
We’ve arrived at a point worldwide where you’re either “Fer me or agin me.” And it’s gotten nastier to the point of violence. Neither side is without blame. Both sides bask in the glow of their respective mosh pits and echo chambers to the point they literally cannot hear each other. Marriages, friendships, and all sorts of relationships are getting destroyed because of disagreements. It’s as if the whole world has gone stark-raving mad. Everything is fair game for fights from clothing to relationships, to sexual preference to political issues, and, yes, to … ELECTIONS. Civil discourse seems to have gone the way of the dinosaurs and has been replaced by one word … HATE! We’ve begun to “hate” the other side. Facts have been replaced by “alternative facts”, whatever the hell those are.
It all comes down to this term … cognitive dissonance. We accept those things with which we agree, and we reject those things with which we disagree as if we, alone, are the arbiter of the truth. We have become the judges, jurors, and executioners in all matters. And heaven (or hell) help anyone who dare disagree with us. Put us together with like-minded people and we become an unruly mob.
Let’s run down the list of culprits. The media (dissention sells), leaders (fan the flames), social media (instant gratification), xenophobia (fear of strangers), and the government (keep the power structure intact). Just for fun let’s throw in right-wingers, left-wingers, Blacks, Browns, all other minorities, the undocumented, Jews, Muslims, LGBTQ’s, pro-lifers, pro-choicers, Gen Y, Gen X, Gen Z, Boomers (Have I missed anyone?) Again, we are willing to take up arms with anyone who is like-minded and willing to do battle with the infidels. But the real culprits are ignorance, lack of education, lack of tolerance, and lack of critical thinking. We are supposed to be evolving not devolving.
Here's a thought. There was a song recorded by English singer-guitarist Dave Mason, written by Jim Krueger. “We Just Disagree” The song was later covered in 1993 by country singer Billy Dean. Let’s all take a big breath, take a step back, and read the lyrics.
So, let's leave it alone 'cause we can't see eye to eye There ain't no good guy, there ain't no bad guy There's only you and me and we just disagree
It’s not life or death and neither are elections. Stop making it that. It’s just a disagreement.
In the wise words of Samuel L Jackson … “Calm the F—k Down!
Tikkun Olam- heal the world. Leave it a better place when you leave.
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