think about it


HOW DO YOU HANDLE DIFFERENCES? by william e. kelly


Late this past spring a celebrated comedian used a stage prop to rep- resent the severed head of President Trump. The point she was trying to make still escapes me. But for many, it was seen as a display of disrespect, anger and contempt at best and of hate and violence at worst. It set off an intense, but brief uproar, about free speech and comments covered feelings of horror, outrage and even acceptance, from every imaginable point of view. The discourse about it, left me to critically examine what I believe to be the sources of hate, violence and extreme discord destroying our nation’s soul, democracy and image.


What if we sought to neutralize the words and actions of hate and anger bombarding us every day, instead of throwing gasoline on fires fed by raw emotions?


It is painfully clear that the more hateful speech and actions we share and view, the more we grow numb to it and accept it. Passing on hate speech and the violence-provoking words of others, particularly those with celebrity, is just using another’s


40 RAGE monthly | AUGUST 2017 I believe we humans too often confuse


trying to learn and understand the reasons behind opposing views, as being synony- mous with agreeing with or accepting them as our own. ”


bad behavior to justify our own. It passively demonstrates approval and consequently, has a multiplier effect as we share it with others, who also pass it along in a fashion of societal self-brainwashing. Doing so helps to creates a them-versus-us mentality, strengthening an environment of double standards, prejudice and discrimination…leading nowhere positive. Would it not be far more productive to avoid crossing those emotionally laden lines, beyond which there is no logical and positive road of return? We are a union daringly built on common needs and desires, in an atmosphere heavily weighted down with personal differences. As citizens, we each have the opportunity and the obligation, to help our diverse nation and world, heal and build mutually- agreeable, beneficial paths. Until we learn and understand the


roots of our differences however, we can never be that naturally diverse and truly united nation or world. The individual perceptions and ideologies we each favor, are nothing more than products of our unique combinations of life experiences and the means by which we personally digest all things. Battling each other over opposing ideologies serves no one. Stamping out hate speech and the horrific actions it can encourage, does not require that individuals accept as their own any opposing political, religious or societal ideologies. The manner in which all human interac- tions evolve from one generation to the next, continues to be perpetuated and yet, also undergoes alterations with unpredictable results through the ages. Personal differences are an inescapable reality…How we deal with them is not. I believe we humans


too often confuse trying to learn and understand the reasons behind op- posing views, as being synonymous with agreeing and accepting them as our own. The truth is, the paths to serving


our individual and common needs, bonds and desires as diverse peoples, will never be exactly identical. But, our common human needs and aspirations lean toward safety, security, well-being, opportunity, prosperity, happiness, good health, food, shelter, love, friendships and sense of family, as well as companionship and community for ourselves and our loved ones. Doesn’t it seem logical then, that focusing on that which unites us is the means to common ground, including mutually beneficial discussion, collaboration and cooperation? Only then, those on this revolving,


speck of a speck on a speck in our innumerable universe, can create for ourselves a better, more understand- ing and compassionate world that works for all. How do you deal with differences


and how is that working for you? Just Think About It!


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