Kaleidoscope Eyes

We as individuals must pride ourselves on having a unique perspective, one which proves we are not drones, that we have identities, and that we breathe because we want to… instead of because we have to. We first answer to ourselves, and we speak for our convictions; we do not speak on convictions. We take in dissent and allow it to round the discussion. We do not splinter off and sequester our arguments but attach to common roots, we become entangled, only to break free and break new ground again.

When a new outlook is born, what do we see? We can choose to believe all views are centered and in tidy compartments, where one is clearly right and the other clearly wrong. Or, we can choose to tolerate ambiguity and accept that views can be fragmented because we are a polarized people. This means that we present facts as facts from which we all draw conclusions and then develop opinions. We must accept that our opinions, however founded upon fact, are sometimes swayed by emotion, past experience, and a simple disconnect between the subject matter and the reality to which it applies. That is, we are polarized not because theory, fact, and law contradict one another but.... because the course of history has written codes by which large factions of people abide.

These codes, these disciplines, are lifestyles centered on morality or a total lack thereof. Because of this, ethics sit in the middle ground; these are used as justifiable means. Ethical people measure their means in a very formulaic way, by calculating the aggregate benefit to society and themselves… playing the almighty. If it did not directly affect their standing, the ethical, immoral person would not question the effects of a course of action; this is done out of self-servitude.  When ethics are taught, it is so because they are somehow not inherent. So, ethics is learned behavior. Internalizing ethical conduct creates a pretense; people can pretend to have moral interests when these do not come from moral codes at all. Ethical interests serve as appropriate behavior, like manners being taught to a kid, where moral interests serve a more unconditional belief that the act is right and good.

As society and self come together and apart, we regress and we grow. After careful consideration, we filter out the things with which we do not agree, and we blend in those that we admire. People offer amazing ideas, opinions, and valuable information but also introduce undue skepticism, bias, and completely wayward advice. As we walk the halls filled with our lives’ passers-by, look through a different scope. View the world with kaleidoscope eyes.