Opportunity to Love
Blogging gives us an opportunity that is probably unique in the history of mankind. We have an opportunity to present ourselves as the person we are without inducing the petty prejudices that meeting in person sometimes presents. We have the words to convey what it is we feel in our hearts, despite our race, color, creed, religion, etc. has had a chance to color the feelings others might otherwise form just from seeing us.
I think it carries a light responsibility with it to connect with those who could actually overlook those things, if they can know us first. If we don't bring up our differences first, they might have the chance to love us as friends, before they can hate us as different. I'm not advocating being deceitful, just the opposite, I'm advocating being honest about who we are, just before letting others know what we are. What we are is human, human with really very minor differences. Maybe we can connect from our commonality, before being torn asunder by our differences.
posted by Charles @ 8:48 PM
Comments: 24 <-<<Add One!
24 Comments:
This is a another beautiful post from you.
Thank you for posting this.
Mona,
I ran into a couple of posts today that made me think of our differences, one was from Kanrei, with praise of "[...]Hassan Askari who rose above those petty differences of faith and showed that when push comes to shove, the basics are all the same: love your brother."
The other post, was about how there are double standards in regard to whether someone is called a racist, and although stating a legitimate point and stating "We were all created in the IMAGE of God," some may find it offensive, so I'll avoid linking to it. If one were so inclined, they could search for that quote, I suppose.
So true. Blogging is a great way of meeting wonderful people who you'd otherwise never had an opportunity to know. Nicely put, Charles.
Charles. You have a very nice and erudite place here.
I have found that by actually hiding my identity, thereby freeing myself from any preconcieved notions about me due to conditiond that are completely out of my control, ie: birth, I was able to reach a lot of people that I couldn't have as NYD.
That being said. Just as I was getting my thoughts out in the world, people started to place their notions about who I was into their responses to what they thought I was saying.
I believe that it is more difficult than we can imagine to be able to look upon each other without prejudice.
Sorry for the lengthy comment. I didn't have time to prepare a concise version.
NGAC,
Blogging is great. It also gives us the opportunity to state our point and supporting arguments with full explanations, before being asked questions that would sidetrack us, as in conversation. Thanks, I'm trying.
NYD,
Thank you.
Don't look now, but your wisdom is showing.
Forming ideas of who someone is, is a much better way to look at one another than to form ideas of what someone is. I'm not saying who I thought you were, but I think I have an idea, and that person I was seeing has a better heart than many I have known, and a better sense of humor. :)
You're right about our predisposition to exhibit our prejudice, and rightfully so.
No need to apologize, I welcome your comments, however long you'd like to make them. Feel free to chime in whenever the notion strikes you.
LOL! NYD should take a glimpse of some of your old comment boxes!
Mona,
NYD isn't as new as you'd think, he's been 'undercover.'
i've been so blessed by the various people i have 'met' in the blogosphere. so much to be learned from so many.
Maybe it goes back to the fact that we are all more alike than we are different?
Blogging allows to learn a lot about different cultures and people. I try to visit blogs from different parts of the world. I admire some fantastic photos (which also can tell a lot about the place and the photographer), but like very much when there is also a story and then to read the comments... and the comments to the comments. But how many bloggers open really their hearts? At least I feel that you learn a lot more about people by blogging than by the (overgoing?) Facebook fashion.
Sometimes blogging can also lead to meeting people in real. A good opportunity to check if your blogging impressions can be confirmed.
What a great post - and so true! :)
Happy First day at New Job!
May you love whatever you do!!
Lime,
I feel the same way, it is indeed a blessing to have 'met' some of the bloggers I have.
LW,
We are more alike than different, and it's a mystery as to why people are judged to be less than they are just because of the minor differences between them. We have this opportunity to explain some of those differences and spread understanding, we merely need to be nice about it.
Peter,
I love learning that despite our differences, we are all actually very much alike. I like that many of the people I've met, aren't at all like they have been presented to us, either. I haven't tried Facebook or MySpace, so I can't say what they are like, and only within the last week have I tried using Orkut, and haven't really gotten into it, although it appears to have a lot of special interest groups. If I find something really useful or interesting, be assured, I'll blog about it.
Akelamalu,
Thanks. It is true.
Mona,
Thanks. I think its going to be good, I already like many of the people there, they seem like really good people.
What a lovely post, Charles. It makes perfect sense to me. I don't put all of myself out there, but what I do reveal is honest and it always saddens me to discover dishonesty in others.
I hope you had a great start to your new job!
(((HUGS)))
don't publish them... they might keep dropping at random now & then...LOL!
SJ,
Thanks, its probably better that we only put out the best of ourselves, I'm sure what you put out is honest. I hate dishonesty, but I suppose its best to avoid putting out that part of us that puts others off.
((HUGS)) Mona.
This is as good a spot as any... maybe better than some others.
Charles, thank you for the Christmas greeting yesterday. I was really touched that you made the visit just for that. I'm feeling remarkably "included" in this community in such a short amount of time.
Regarding this post (which I didn't have a chance to read until just now!), I have to say that, before I started my blog, my intention was to take advantage of the opportunity to lay out my view and supporting points without interruption so I could hopefully make people at least understand where I'm coming from, even if they don't share my views. Maybe some day soon I will find my strong voice. In the meantime, I've been enjoying my more creative (and inoffensive) expression.
Smarty,
You're welcome. You are part of the community, so why wouldn't you feel included?
Isn't blogging great? ;)
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