Listen, Think, Study, and Discuss
September 28th, 2006
The meaning of freedom is beyond the physical form.
It is the extension of the human spirit into this world.
To overcome its constraints:
Understanding that even if a person may appear incorrect according to our own viewpoint, we do not have to react to it. A reaction to a viewpoint with another viewpoint, merely escalates a whirlwind of viewpoints, often leading to distaste or even hatred towards one another.
We see this occurring throughout the world today and at an alarmingly escalating level. Understanding another’s viewpoint however, can lead us to thoughtful solutions. To me this means researching another’s viewpoint, studying its full meaning, its background, history and of course, the cultural, social and psychological context of the person holding the view.
If I am patient in my research, something new and special will arise. ‘Knowledge of context’ —the why behind the viewpoint— often gives one a much more clear understanding of the person embracing the view.
To me, this is a form of freedom that I have come to deeply regard. The liberty to understand another’s viewpoint as important to my own. Thus, possibly enriching both our own view of the world and adding to the world’s body of knowledge. Granted, this is not to say that a truly evil or inhumane viewpoint should be completely tolerated. But reacting with an equally evil inhumane response will not suffice.
To give peace a chance we must learn to Listen, Think, Study, and Discuss. As such, a peaceful (though at times, intense, and even heated) conversation often leads to a peaceful conclusion.
What is the option?
Kill, repress, re-educate, imprison all viewpoints that differ with our own until we have finally achieved the perfect peaceful utopian world of our “perfect set of perfect viewpoints?”
Listen, Think, Study, and Discuss. Thank you for listening.
by Paul Jones
Middlesbrough, UK
www.thedisclosureproject.co.uk
It’s intelligence like yours that will save the world. Thank you so much for your contribution to this website. How can anyone with any viewpoint on anything reject what you are saying? It just makes sense.
Again, thank you for your expressing your rational thoughts!