Fear as the enemy of civility

 I realize that the thoughts below are not unique.  I do wish they were shared by more people...so therefore in that spirit I share them here.  I dream of a friendlier tomorrow with you, whoever you are, free from labels, generalizations, hypocricy, and the fear that spawns it.


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 Why the intense need to be right, for you to agree with me, to align with my view, (my skew?) on an issue, a person, a belief?  Why the venom, the outright hate toward those on a different path? Is it fear and insecurity? Fear, I believe is at the root of most varieties of human ugliness.  But fear of what?  Of being wrong,  being left out, of being part of a minority opinion?

 I'm reminded of a lyrical gem by Neil Peart from the RUSH song Witch Hunt: "Quick to judge, quick to anger, slow to understand...ignorance, prejudice and fear walk hand in hand."  Why must so many people be perpetually in a quivering crouch, ready to pounce on any misstep, any perfectly human flub-up, by one of "them"?  And here's where the hypocrisy would be almost funny if it weren't so heart wrenching...If the same thing were done or uttered by someone I like, support, voted for etc. then well, it was misinterpreted or is otherwise understandable and dismissed.  Can't we just give everyone some room to be an occasionally misspoken, goofy, flawed human being?

 Can you like me without trying to change me?  The perceptions that we attach to labels are based largely on generalizations which could only approximate at best and totally miss the mark in most cases, in describing an individual.  Here's a thought - Celebrate diversity.  Stop demonizing different! The alternative to diversity sounds pretty boring to me anyway.  Why in the world would I want everyone to be just like me? As I see it, the conflicts in our society come not from diversity itself but from those who for whatever reason (fear) feel compelled to impose their way, to change minds, and to close their own in the meantime.  How about revisiting an old saying - "Live and let live".

 So maybe you don't want to go to church with me, and no, I really don't care to eat vegan this thanksgiving, and look at that, we voted differently two years ago, and we don't agree on the likelihood of intelligent life in other worlds, hey I even think  same-sex couples should be able to experience the joys (and struggles) of marriage...but even so, how about we catch a movie tonight and then discuss it over coffee?  And fear not...hopefully, for the sake of lively conversation, we'll have some differing perspectives on it.  Not better, not "right", just different.  And that's where growth happens.  That's where we evolve.