Sunday Thought, March 22, 2015: At Harmony with Contrarian Thought

"Wise men speak because they have something to say; 

fools because they have to say something."

-- Plato

Ever ask yourself, "Why am I arguing with this jackass?"  It's frustrating, especially when you're arguing a point with, supposed, intelligent people which you respect, or when you see information flow in and garbage flow out.  It can feel like college, when you hand in a five hundred page thesis for grading, knowing full well the instructor will put it through a cross cut shredder without reading it, then give the confetti back to you in a paper bag.  Why bother arguing when you know it is pointless?  If you aren't involved in governmental politics, then why bother?  And, even then, why bother?  It isn't as though they ever accomplish anything.  Those that know me also know my question of choice is "why?"

"Wise men don't need advice.  Fools won't take it."

-- Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), a "Founding Father" of the United States  

One would hope, where politics is concerned, presenting a cogent argument with undisputable facts might be enough to sway contrarian thought to your side.  Unfortunately, in politics, even if they agree you're right, they will stay the party line.  This is why watching Congress is like watching a corral full of jackasses just braying loudly at each other instead of intelligent people discussing with each other.  After a while you begin to realize you're just watching paint that never dries.  The topic of religion can be just as bad, and when we look for the reasons why, it seems fairly clear.  It is hard for a person to admit the culture they grew up in could, possibly, be wrong.

“Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.”

-- Mark Twain (1835-1910), author, humorist

A child brought up in a culture of neo-Nazi, white supremacist, propaganda, will probably be hard pressed to convince that any other ideology is not a threat, much less admit the one they hold dear is dangerous.  I always find these folks that think they're superior as rather sad.  If they were superior, they wouldn't fear all people different than they are.  If they're so superior, why is everyone else such a threat to them?  Instead we find them to be small minded, intolerant, frightened, and possibly dangerous.  I think this example holds true in Christianity as well.  I see it with the Hillsboro Baptist Church, and other "cult" congregations that want to interpret the bible in such a way so everyone else is condemned to hell except them.  It is just easier to judge others than to be tolerant and loving to them.  I find this a lot with mainstream Christian views of the Christian gay community.  How could they possibly love Jesus, they're gay!

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts."

-- Bertrand Russell (1872-1970), philosopher

I have also found that people get angry when they type.  Have you noticed this?  First, their sentences go from coherent to reading like their spitting nails and can't construct a complete sentence.  Then they get belligerent, and the cussing starts just as they hit the caps lock and put the exclamation point on auto pilot.  This, for me, is a sure indicator that you've entered into "braying jackass" territory.  I've been told for years that I have this effect on people.  I hadn't noticed... but, then, I am humble to a fault. 

Families experience frustrating communication, at times, some more than others.  My dad and I got into a heated discussion, just this morning, concerning a kitchen cabinet and the power runs underneath it.  I failed to stand back, as I have done tried to do in the past, figuring I'd allow him to discover my point as we got further into installation.  I failed because I have to live in the house after it's built, so I thought it prudent to iron out any issue before the cabinet is installed.  The first recommendation was to wait on power until later when the cabinet is installed.  Until that time we could leave the wires coiled up under the house.  After an hour of trying to understand each other's points, our final decision was to wait on power until the cabinet is installed, and leave the wires coiled up under the house.  Who woulda thought?  Both of us went to our respective corners and, although I think I won on points, I'll call the sparring match a draw, since I allowed him to beat me up pretty well in the process.  

And this is my point.  People seem to have debilitating frustration over contrarian thought just to find out, in the end, it really accomplishes nothing as you beat your head, or your son's head, against the proverbial brick wall.  It is the irresistible force meeting the immovable object.  You both just know you're right.  In this instance did it really matter?  The right and wrong will shake out when the cabinet gets installed.  Why put each other through this grief?

"The softest thing in the universe

Overcomes the hardest thing in the universe.

That without substance can enter where there is no room.

Hence I know the value of non-action. 

Teaching without words and work without doing

Are understood by very few."

-- "Tao Te Ching" (43),  Laozi (604-531 BC), Chinese poet, philosopher

Taoist philosophy teaches that water flows around the stone, seeming to have no effect on it.  Yet, 10,000 years later the stone has been worn away by the constant flow against it.  I would think that this might also follow to the butterfly that flaps it's wings in Africa and makes it rain in Kansas.  The smallest, imperceptible, things can have great impact, given time.

So, the next time you feel like you're getting into a braying contest, do yourself, and your blood pressure, a favor... smile sweetly, give a slight bow, and walk away.  If they make a comment about you leaving, do not turn around and dignify it with a response, just keep on walking.  Personally, I'd give him the finger over my shoulder and keep on walking, but that's just me.  Yeah, I know, technically it's still a response, but it will make me smile just knowing I called, "Last tag!" 

"Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom."

-- Charles Spurgeon

Editor's Note:  

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion.  It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other.  An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion and debate in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth.  After over twenty years as a military intelligence analyst, planner, and briefer, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human.  God's test for us is what we do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.
  

Pastor Frank Anthony Villari

Pastor Tony is founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance and author/editor of the Congregation's official blog site, "The Path."