Again you have penned a thoughtful and thought-provoking essay. It is true, as you say, that each of us carries the choice and the responsibility for what sort of spirit we carry. Just about all of us muddle along somewhere in the middle, I think, showing great compassion and love some of the time and less nice characteristics at other times. One lesson that has been driven home to me time and time again is that when I let the less-nice side have its way, I may realize some short-term goal thereby, but I feel like crap anyway. Anticipating this in advance can help the nicer side gain traction before I have acted. For example, if someone says something that stings, and my clever brain thinks of a "perfect" retort to wound back with, often all that's necessary is to hold back that thought for a few seconds and instead say something which neither yields the point of disagreement nor ratchets up emotion. "I can see that we're both passionate on the subject, and I definitely share your concerns about addressing X," for example. As an added bonus, if my goal is to convince someone that his views are misguided, a non-confrontational approach works much better than insults.
Alexandr Solzhenitsyn put the challenge this way: “If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.” It's hard to look within and find evil in our own heart, but it's there, and it must be understood if it is ever to be conquered.
After posting I was unhappy with the word "conquered", since it connotes good prevailing against bad by using force. As has been discussed in previous recent columns, the evil in our hearts can't be beaten, but only dissolved through acquired wisdom. Ultimately, I think, that wisdom comes from the clear realization that being nice works so much better in all kinds of ways, very much including selfish ways: how we shine out to the world is pretty much how the world shines back to us.
Solzhenitsyn advised us to speak up, so I will. I disagree. Acquired wisdom and clear realization do not dissolve the evil in the human heart. I'm in extended discussions with nationally known thinkers who deny that human beings have unalienable rights stemming from their being human -- but instead, humans have rights because some "wise" committee decides what the rights are and who gets them. No surprise -- these thinkers believe they are in the select committee of the wise, while they define two tiers of humanity (with rights, without rights). Mr. Brownstein's piece delivers the truth that self-appointed "wise" people persecute, torture, and commit genocide. The antidote to evil is God through Christ.
Mr. Brownstein -- oh my no --this was my first ever post on your blog site. I was responding to the fellow who apparently is a regular commenter and who asserted that all we need is wisdom and everything will be fine. You'll see in my reply I used his post's words as I was expressing disagreement. I totally agree with yours. I must have put my reply in the wrong place maybe?
Again you have penned a thoughtful and thought-provoking essay. It is true, as you say, that each of us carries the choice and the responsibility for what sort of spirit we carry. Just about all of us muddle along somewhere in the middle, I think, showing great compassion and love some of the time and less nice characteristics at other times. One lesson that has been driven home to me time and time again is that when I let the less-nice side have its way, I may realize some short-term goal thereby, but I feel like crap anyway. Anticipating this in advance can help the nicer side gain traction before I have acted. For example, if someone says something that stings, and my clever brain thinks of a "perfect" retort to wound back with, often all that's necessary is to hold back that thought for a few seconds and instead say something which neither yields the point of disagreement nor ratchets up emotion. "I can see that we're both passionate on the subject, and I definitely share your concerns about addressing X," for example. As an added bonus, if my goal is to convince someone that his views are misguided, a non-confrontational approach works much better than insults.
Alexandr Solzhenitsyn put the challenge this way: “If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.” It's hard to look within and find evil in our own heart, but it's there, and it must be understood if it is ever to be conquered.
Looking forward to your next essay.
Thank you, Jdl, Your insightful comments are a wise addition to my essay!
After posting I was unhappy with the word "conquered", since it connotes good prevailing against bad by using force. As has been discussed in previous recent columns, the evil in our hearts can't be beaten, but only dissolved through acquired wisdom. Ultimately, I think, that wisdom comes from the clear realization that being nice works so much better in all kinds of ways, very much including selfish ways: how we shine out to the world is pretty much how the world shines back to us.
Exactly! For it to be any other way would tamper with cause and effect. Light dissolves darkness.
Solzhenitsyn advised us to speak up, so I will. I disagree. Acquired wisdom and clear realization do not dissolve the evil in the human heart. I'm in extended discussions with nationally known thinkers who deny that human beings have unalienable rights stemming from their being human -- but instead, humans have rights because some "wise" committee decides what the rights are and who gets them. No surprise -- these thinkers believe they are in the select committee of the wise, while they define two tiers of humanity (with rights, without rights). Mr. Brownstein's piece delivers the truth that self-appointed "wise" people persecute, torture, and commit genocide. The antidote to evil is God through Christ.
Rick, I appreciate the time you took to read and reflect on my essay.
I'm not sure what I wrote that you disagree with. I agree with you that evil can fill our mind anytime we choose to turn in its direction.
Mr. Brownstein -- oh my no --this was my first ever post on your blog site. I was responding to the fellow who apparently is a regular commenter and who asserted that all we need is wisdom and everything will be fine. You'll see in my reply I used his post's words as I was expressing disagreement. I totally agree with yours. I must have put my reply in the wrong place maybe?
Rick, Got it. It's fine to disagree with me. I just wanted to effectively answer any question about my essay you had.
As for Jdl's comments wisdom does have great power in facilitating a change of heart. He was talking about more than book knowledge.