1) Why is it that, by and large, those who are more educated, more experienced in living around those who are different than themselves, and/or more well-traveled, tend to lean more to the left politically?
2) Is it possible to create a culture of 100% tolerance of one another? To clarify my meaning, I have noticed that many liberals talk about tolerance, but are utterly intolerant of conservatives. In my opinion, this is a hypocritical double standard.
3) What is meant by the adage, "if you are young and conservative you are heartless, and if you are old and liberal you are brainless"? Why is this saying so widely used?
4) Is there a point when it's deemed acceptable to sacrifice ones ideals for practicality? For example, does an ideal such as altruism have to be at the disposal of one's own well-being?
5) Why is it that many Americans defend democracy at all costs as the absolute "best form of government"? (This question can also apply to such "American" values as capitalism and the free market economy)
Real brain-busters, right? Well, you're answers are as good as any gem I can come up with. Good luck, and may the best contestant win...er, this isn't a contest.
I don't have any answers to your questions, but I do have questions for your questions that could help answer some questions. HaHa. Maybe. Here's my question: Why are middle of the road people (not beer), those who are conservative humanitarians, liberal CEOs, myself etc., why are they in that position, and so much cooler than other people, and why do extremists (other people) think they are so right about where they stand on issues? What good does it do to not consider someone else's ideas or opinions?
ReplyDeleteSomething else that I think relates to a lot of these questions is that we live in a dimension of existence that smothers us in limitations. All of your questions deal with the pendulum theory. The ups and downs and backs and forths of our existence. This theory is a formula for disaster. This world tells us there has to be good an bad and that we should be working for some kind of equilibrium. Why would you want to settle for the median just to avoid the extremes? It's not only a difficult way to live, but a sucky way to live. Even if I gave you my definitive answer I would be mistaken because I would be telling you using the words of this limited world. I would be a hypocrite. So I'm going to tell you anyway. There is one answer and it's not God or CS or whatever. It's the purest most fundamental part of the word love. The thing you can't touch or smell or taste or hear. Don't think about it too deeply or on any kind of level. It's easy to think there are many meanings for that word. Think about what the word stands for and that's the answer to any and every question. The real question is, since we're here and not in lala land where pure love is the answer to everything, how do we handle things in the mean time? And brother, that's why we're having this blogging discussion. Now, if I can just learn how to spell correctly without that red line popping up under my words...
In conclusion it is my opinion that we're all reaching for the same thing, total prosperity/happiness and any other thing that sounds like it might be really good. All of which are synonymous with love. No matter how we get it, we want it. If that means having lots of money to one person it means saving lives to another or having a little bit of both.
I think you have winner!
Ah yes, the questions! :) haha
ReplyDeleteI love the questioning nature of this blog my friend. Skip's responses were uncalledfor at best haha. Just joking. In all seriousness, I believe the probing questions in the original post and the responses from Skip helped me to solidify my understanding of some enigmatic questions I have "surfing in my own mind".
Love IS something greater than what we think of it to be. It is the answer to everything and how we handle things in the mean time. Cheers to love and the discussion aforementioning it.
As for tolerance... Tolerance, tolerance, tolerance. Oh how I crave thee tolerance. I crave thee for all people on this wonderful globe. I desire thee for the individuals who call themselves Americans (Norther, Central, and Southern alike). I crave religious, social, socio-economic, and ethnic tolerance. Tolerance to me is when people strive to understand the other and respect the difference that may or may not exist. When tolerance lacks in a situation, a government, or a world, I first ask: "Who is striving to sincerely understand the other person in this situation?" I have found the answer to usually conclude as: "They are simply not trying to understand the other group/person."
That is it for me. Short, simple, and hopefully sweet.