People often use the term respect whenever they want you to stop confronting them about their beliefs or ideas. I am inclined to subscribe to the definition of respect as have due regard for. And if I am to have due regard for something, I make sure that I do my part to actively challenge it. Passivity only promotes a static condition of beliefs and ideas. Im a firm believer of human discourse and its all-inclusive nature. Nothing should be spared from its evolutionary landscape and its converging and diverging effects on ideas and belief systems. Im a firm believer of humor as a tool not only to tackle but dissect taboo. That it should push us to have second thoughts about long-held principles and phenomena which we accept as good or evil. That sarcasm, if ever it offends us or revolts us, we should not only think but think hard of the point of view of The Enemy. And only in contemplation of such things, of embracing conflict as nourishment, of ridicule as an opportunity for an exchange of knowledge, with an open mind and an open heart do we achieve a Buddhist shift of perspective or a Christian concept of love your enemy. After all, love resides in the breadth and depth of understanding the Other doesnt it?
Posted on: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 06:03:53 +0000
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