Interesting times
To say that we live in an interesting period is a major understatement.
I suspect that twenty years down, behavior science specialists will have a field day trying to make sense of the seemingly unexplainable phenomenon we are seeing today.
I have been blogging and writing a column all these many years and I know what it is like to be exposed to all kinds of reactions to an opinion. But I am completely floored down, thrown off the wall, and genuinely alarmed at the viciousness and the utter lack of restraint among those who post political comments and opinions out there. It's like a Roman Coliseum out there, and everyone seems poised to not just take down whoever stands in his or her way, but to maim, obliterate, annihilate.
The level of violence in the discourse is alarming.
This is one reason I have not gone back to column writing despite an interesting offer.
It's the same reason why I have not been as active in Facebook. The temptation to join the fray is high, but I guess my aversion to dirt and gore is more powerful.
But I do miss writing.
Which is why I have gone back to blogging.
Anyway.
I was passively scrolling down my FB feed this week and was quite saddened to note that someone I know and used to respect a lot (he was deeply religious and was very pro-people, he championed many initiatives that promoted a healthy respect for people and their potentials) had been posting incendiary shoutouts that essentially derogated people who expressed political beliefs that were different from his. Now he justifies certain things that used to be anathema so I wonder if political convictions are indeed more powerful than spiritual values.
Because quite frankly, I think that when everything has been said and done, we're all just answerable to one Supreme being.
I keep my political beliefs to myself and try to remain as objective as possible.
But I do hope that when the time comes, I can honestly say that while I was alive I did not join any conspiracy to kill, murder, or deprive anyone of his or her right to live. I did not give my expressed permission to rob anyone of his or her political, legal, or constitutional rights under the guise of the common good.
I suspect that twenty years down, behavior science specialists will have a field day trying to make sense of the seemingly unexplainable phenomenon we are seeing today.
I have been blogging and writing a column all these many years and I know what it is like to be exposed to all kinds of reactions to an opinion. But I am completely floored down, thrown off the wall, and genuinely alarmed at the viciousness and the utter lack of restraint among those who post political comments and opinions out there. It's like a Roman Coliseum out there, and everyone seems poised to not just take down whoever stands in his or her way, but to maim, obliterate, annihilate.
The level of violence in the discourse is alarming.
This is one reason I have not gone back to column writing despite an interesting offer.
It's the same reason why I have not been as active in Facebook. The temptation to join the fray is high, but I guess my aversion to dirt and gore is more powerful.
But I do miss writing.
Which is why I have gone back to blogging.
Anyway.
I was passively scrolling down my FB feed this week and was quite saddened to note that someone I know and used to respect a lot (he was deeply religious and was very pro-people, he championed many initiatives that promoted a healthy respect for people and their potentials) had been posting incendiary shoutouts that essentially derogated people who expressed political beliefs that were different from his. Now he justifies certain things that used to be anathema so I wonder if political convictions are indeed more powerful than spiritual values.
Because quite frankly, I think that when everything has been said and done, we're all just answerable to one Supreme being.
I keep my political beliefs to myself and try to remain as objective as possible.
But I do hope that when the time comes, I can honestly say that while I was alive I did not join any conspiracy to kill, murder, or deprive anyone of his or her right to live. I did not give my expressed permission to rob anyone of his or her political, legal, or constitutional rights under the guise of the common good.
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