How Do You React To This Photo?
- If this photograph makes you uncomfortable.
You are human.
2. If your response is “There but for the grace of God go I”.
You are a better human.
3. If your response is to drape your jacket over this man.
You are superhuman
4. If you are reluctant to give this man money because you believe he will just spend it on drugs or alcohol.
We do not share the same world view. You do not know how he will spend it and even if you did you do not have the right to determine how he will spend it. He has the right to choose how he will live and what he will do with anything you may give him. A conditional gift is not a gift. It is an attempt to control another person and to do so in my world view is socially unacceptable.
5. Perhaps your response was to see the man not as an unfortunate but as a loser.
There is what I consider to be a disturbing shift in the global consciousness in general and the American consciousness in particular. This shift toward a self centeredness can only add to our pain and suffering by bringing about a change in the previous trend toward global cooperation; the destruction of a prosperous economy and the inability to deal with problems such as global warming.
6. If your response is to blame the capitalist system.
You see the world in terms of us and them. I find Your dualistic view to be troublesome. As a supporter of Bernie Sanders, you may feel that because “we” did not win you are unwilling to participate in any kind compromise and your actions along with the actions of those who champion Tara Reade’s version of events may lead to another four years of Donald Trump. I am not suggesting that Joe Biden is entirely blameless. I believe that he did touch his former employee in an inappropriate way and that it was probably not from his point of view a sexual act. it does however reflect a lack of respect for and understanding of broader issues with regard to women. He is not perfect but four more years of Trump is likely to lead to further deterioration in the impartiality of the supreme court which will have a lasting negative effect on how women are treated. Let me repeat, that viewing the world as us and them, as Democrat vs Republican; as socialist vs non socialist; as feminists vs non feminists does not move us forward toward an inclusive, harmonious future.
7. If your response is to be upset because the man is draped in the American flag.
Your narrow view and lack of compassion is not something to be proud of. Many Americans are no longer proud to call themselves American.
8. If your response is “If there is a God why would he allow such misery and suffering?”
Asking such a question suggests that you may be engaging in a spiritual journey. Spiritual values may come from an external source that is they may come through accepting the rituals and precepts of particular faith. I don’t wish to denigrate such an approach it may be personally valuable and rewarding. There is a danger in this approach in that it can lead to denying others the right to practice their faith. A protestant Christian may feel that the values of a Catholic or Muslim or Jew are somehow wrong or misguided and the same can be said of Sunni Muslim who can not accept the faith of Shia Muslim. Although an eccumenical faith is possible there is a trend toward seeing oneself as spiritual but not religious. The Buddhist approach is that recognizing the existence of misery and suffering is the starting point of enlightenment. I don’t have any definitive answers.
9. You may believe that it is appropriate to kick the shit out of this helpless man.
If I were more compassionate and a better human being I might be able to forgive you or understand your actions. I believe however that such an action is subhuman and the world would be better off if you had never been born.
What does this article say about me?
Carl Jung wrote: Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.
The responses that I have enumerated range from insecurity and uncertainty to ego driven overconfidence and I realise that my sometimes sarcastic or satirical expression suggests that I fall toward the overconfident egotistical end of the spectrum. If you have followed my arguments carefully you will realise that they are somewhat inconsistent. On the one hand I believe that I have the right to determine what is socially acceptable. On the other hand I berate those whose beliefs would guide them not to participate in a democracy that they see as flawed. I believe that one day our species will become more cooperative. I am however deeply disturbed by the beliefs and actions of many fellow humans.