Death, Divisiveness, and Hero Worship

By Diego Garcia III | Editor of The Brownsville Beacon

"We fight. Fight with our families. Fight with our business associates. Sometimes we fight with our friends. If God were here, we'd probably fight with him, too."

That's a line actor Kevin Pollak delivers when referring to two best friends become enemies in the movie War Dogs, but it's a fitting line to describe all of society today. We love arguing. We love insults. We love drama. We love negativity. We feed off it. We thrive on misery and hatred.

We don't watch auto racing to see who wins, we watch to see who wrecks. We don't watch the news to see what good has happened in the world, we watch to see the natural disasters and explosions and the collapse of politicians and famous people.

Society has become a dark, twisted, cynical version of what it once was. You don't agree with me? You don't share the same political, or religious, or cultural beliefs I do? Well, society now says I have to hate you. I'm pro-choice and you're pro-life? I hate you. I'm for gay marriage and you're against gay marriage? I hate you. I'm Catholic and you're an atheist? I hate you. I'm a Democrat and you're a Republican? I really, really hate you.

The basic definition of Christianity is a belief in the divinity of Jesus Christ. Different branches of Christianity even fight with one another because they can't agree on what a real Christian is. What about the belief that the paths are many, but the Light is one? No. You have to believe the exact same way I do because if you don't, you're going to burn in hell.

I'm pro-immigration; I think people fleeing their home countries who come from abject poverty and despair deserve a new start; a shot at the American Dream. Oh, well, then let's open all the borders and let every immigrant from Central and South America live on your front lawn. 

What? Why is that their only option?

We can't even mourn the death of someone without it being controversial. When Specialist Miguel Villalón died, I drew a memorial cartoon of him being welcomed at the gates of heaven by Saint Peter. Someone made a comment saying I shouldn't assume he was going to heaven since he was responsible for murdering innocent people like the rest of the U.S. military does. 

When Kobe Bryant's death was announced, some people took the news very badly. He was an outstanding professional basketball player and was a hero for many, many people. Several people took to social media to post about his death. I made a comment on a law enforcement page saying people should memorialize and remember police officers and members of the armed forces who lose their lives in the line of duty just as much as we remember sports superstars who lose their lives. Because someone didn't agree with what I posted, I was raked over the coals and accused of disrespecting the memory of Kobe Bryant. 

I did nothing of the kind. I simply said we should honor those who sacrifice their lives so that others may live on the same equal footing as we honor popular athletes. I was not disrespecting anybody, but there was no explaining it to the mob. They had clearly made up their minds. I was a loser for speaking ill about the dead.

When did we become so myopic? When did we become so narrow and closed-minded? When did we start thinking those who disagree with us are evil, losers, and wrong?

I would think the world would be a very boring place if we were all the same; if we all acted the same; if we all had the same beliefs. I wouldn't like it if there was another "me" out there. Hell, I can barely stand one of me.

Our belief systems and our differences define us; they make us who we are. Everybody is unique. There isn't another person out there exactly like you. We should do better to embrace everyone with all their differences; with all their quirks. 

Don't try and convince people you're right and they're wrong. Listen to them. Really listen to what they have to say. Respect their opinion — just because you respect their opinion doesn't mean you have to agree with it. You just have to agree they have the right to believe whatever it is they want to believe. Sometimes listening to another person's perspective on something you have a deeply held belief about is exactly what you need to help you approach things with an open mind. Sometimes listening to another person's perspective on something is just what you need to figure out a solution to a problem you've been having. 

When you see someone sharing an opinion on something you may not agree with, don't try to change their mind. Don't argue with them. Talk to them. Have a conversation. Hear each other out. And in the end, if you don't see eye to eye with them, there's absolutely nothing wrong with agreeing to disagree — that doesn't mean you have to be mortal enemies because you don't think exactly the same way as the other person does.

People have been disagreeing with one another since the beginning of time, and they've still managed to get along. There's absolutely no reason why we have to continue driving a wedge between ourselves. Friendship, tolerance, and civility should not go out the window because we all have different beliefs. 

President John F. Kennedy said it best. 

"For in the end, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's lives. And we are all mortal."

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