Rhythm Wrote:Imagining that people can be talked out of whatever it is about them you don;t agree with is less than subtle condescension - as usual
Exactly. If I preach my truth to someone else in an imposing way, then what's to stop them from doing the same? Who's to say that my truth or normalcy about any topic is more valid than those of others? As a result, approaching difference in this manner leads to self-deception and dead ends.
Rhythm Wrote:These people are who they are, accept -that-, or it's pointless to talk about acceptance and criticism.
Agreed. People cannot be forced into dialogue; we cannot impose our way of thinking onto them.
Rhythm Wrote:Some people will die before they accept this or that. That doesn't make them less mindful or advanced, nor does it make our species less mindful or advanced....and your dreams of a "more x" this or that are, in truth, no different than their dreams of racial purity.
Good point. If I imposed my dream of a "more x" this or that onto others while being bigoted toward other peoples' dreams, then I would be doing the same thing from the other side: we'd simply be different points on the same problematic, self-rationalizing/justifying triangle. However, throughout human history, our accomplishments and growth came about via certain brave people sharing their dreams of unique x’s, rather than staying silent and accepting the reality of their situation (MLK and Gandhi come to mind). These individuals believed that what they had to say mattered and could contribute to the betterment of humanity. More importantly, they were proactive and not reactive when pursuing their goals. Hence, the means by which we pursue social change, will ultimately determine our success.
