- I support the right to protest and be heard, but protest has to be orderly. It has to take into account the needs of others to get to work to take care of their families.
- Free speech/assembly isn't absolute and unlimited. Rights come with responsibilities and abiding by the responsibilities can help to preserve that right.
- Law enforcement needs reformed, but law enforcement needs to be strong.
- We need to make sure law enforcement is done equally and justly and respect the rights of citizens. But, erroring on the side of too hands off can embolden criminals
- Freedom of assembly is important, but it needs to be done in a responsible way during a pandemic.
- Meeting can be done virtually where possible, but people shouldn't lose their freedom to assemble but should mitigate against risks--limiting numbers, proper spacing and encouraging high risk people to avoid for example.
- It is important to stand again all who say racially or otherwise charged things, but it is also important to make sure we aren't shutting down free speech by destroying people who WE believe are crossing a line.
- People can out of frustration say things WE find offensive, but if we clamp down too hard we are setting a precedent. One day, the future WILL be led by others whose take on what crosses the line is different (and possibly absurd or abusive).
- If we clamp down too hard on what WE deem is offensive speech, we risk freezing speech as people may not want to risk saying things that could be thought even remotely controversial.
- Your words and actions can, in many cases, rightly have serious consequences. However, where possible, a path back or second chance should be allowed.
- This allows people to have the chance to be a positive on society rather than a drain.
- It also exhibits a good side of humanity -- forgiveness.
- An absolute unwillingness to do so, can exhibit anger and contempt.
- You can condemn behaviors of yesteryear, but can also understand some of them were a product of their time. That doesn't mean excuse them, but that means that realize that like a family, people can grow and learn.
- Bad moments in history can be recognized without being celebrated.
- Most people are neither completely evil or a complete saint. Even 'heroes' have flaws, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are not heroes. Likewise, 'bad people' usually have some redeeming quality (or the potential for them).
- Drinking is acceptable, but not always advisable.
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I've come to realize that part of the human struggle is wanting to 'getting it right'. We may do that to be thought of well by others, by ourselves (self-respect) or by our Higher Power (God). Whatever, the motivation, part of 'getting it right' means treating others well, thinking and behaving righteously and just striving to be good people.
I've come to realize that part of 'getting it right' is recognizing nuances and not being dogmatic. The Pharisees of old were focused on being righteous by 'following all the rules'. They may have succeeded in 'following most of the rules', but in their hard hearts they missed the whole point of the Father's teaching. Jesus and his disciples did many good deeds and miracles on the Sabbath. Pharisees pointed out that wasn't 'resting' on the Sabbath. The Pharisees, with their dogmatic, black and white thinking, had no internal conflict. They just knew that good deeds and miracles were 'work' and weren't appropriate for the Sabbath. Jesus' disciples may have been raised to understand that and when Jesus led them to 'break' the Sabbath, it might have been out of their comfort zone. However, it would seem they understood quickly that they were doing God's work and came to understand it was appropriate to do so on the Sabbath.
I feel a bit conflicted on how we can best move forward and how I can best grow to be a better person in today's society. For me, that isn't necessarily a weakness or failing. For me, it is like a baby chick trying to break out of its shell. There is some internal struggle and conflict, but it is a healthy struggle. I don't think anyone in this life has all the answers, but has shells of ignorance. I'd like to think that each of us would should try to break shells of ignorance and uncertainty, where they exist, and trying to be a better person.
We could avoid the internal conflict that goes along with striving to 'get it right' IF we felt like we always had the answers. We could avoid the internal conflict that goes along with find the right nuance in thinking and actions if were judgmental and always thought in black and white. I believe part of where we fail in society is ending up in 'camps' where we think and behave in black and white. Yes, there has to be some absolutes, but I think it is important that we search and strive for the best answers, even if they may not fit our preconceived notions.
Searching for the best answer can result in nuanced thinking. President Nixon has campaigned on being a hardline anti-Communist. He could easily have kept the hard line and not made overtures to China. He was probably counseled by some in his circle against it. Even he may have had his doubts if his actions would yield positive results. He was in an election year and the comfortable 'election' position would be the hardline against China. But he chose to try to find some middle ground with them. This came with conflict, both internal and external. But, he had enough nuance in his thinking to realize that a) we could benefit with a better relationship with China and b) it could be a hedge against Russia. In our relationship with our own kids, we have rules, but we don't inflexibly stick to every rule indefinitely. We adjust where it makes sense, where we feel like we can get better results and proven responsibility on their part dictates reconsideration.
I believe part of maturing is understanding and being willing to go through conflict that comes with finding the 'right' (often nuanced) answer. We could stick dogmatically to the same answers, same positions, and same rhetoric and be very comfortable and self-righteous with it. However, I think it is critical in our own lives, the lives of our family and of our society that we be willing to consider nuances. After all, if Jesus has the nuance to realize that he should dine with the tax collectors and 'sinners' as that was the way to reach them.
Speaking of Jesus, that brings me to one final and probably the most insignificant point. Jesus was able to reach out to and relate to sinners* and not scorn them like the Pharisees, because He wasn't caught up in His own pride. The Pharisees however were. To change their dogmatic position to a more teaching, understanding forgiving position would have required them to essentially admit they had failed in how they executed their role. In essence, they'd have to own up to their own failure and/or lack of understanding of their role in helping others get to know and follow God.
I think part of the block of being willing to adjust our thinking to a more nuanced position is PRIDE. When we take time to reflect on our positions and thinking we open ourselves to the possibility that we've been wrong. Unfortunately, it isn't necessarily just mildly wrong. It can mean completely wrong. Who want's to acknowledge to themselves and/or others that they could be greatly mistaken or totally missed something? Admitting to yourself (and possibly others) that you are or were wrong is effectively humbling yourself. We revere the apostle Peter, but he wasn't always the Peter we have come to appreciate. He used to be a Saul and he used to actively undermine God's work. The Lord literally had to call him out Acts 22. He was so self-assured of his righteousness, only a complete humbling of him would cause him to change his position to be a more nuanced thinking loving man. Overcoming pride to see a more nuanced position, can be a very conflicting (and humbling) experience.
Yes, there are definite right and wrong in this world, but I feel like there is plenty of nuance and sometimes getting to the right nuance can be stressful. It can be easier to just stay in the black and white thinking, but it is important to be willing to adjust that to more nuanced thinking where led.
Just some deep thoughts for the day,
Rich
* I used the term sinners to represent those who were known to break God's laws and the 'religious rules' of the day and had the capacity to recognize their failings. In actuality, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God...".
