Hanging the Day

[degringolade]

 

Cubism / M.F. Husain/ The Preacher at Mecca

So, I left a comment over at a Dreamwidth-buddy’s account to the effect that expecting folks with different beliefs to not believe the way you want them to is kinda silly.  

But it got me thinking about the whole way that here in America and the West we have come to look at beliefs.  I am thinking about the word toleration.  That is the key.  I don’t expect that I will celebrate any of your beliefs because they are your beliefs, you celebrate them every day, I see no reason to add to that celebration.  I also don’t expect that you will take the time to celebrate my beliefs, I am not at all certain that they are worthy of celebrating. 

But even toleration is a bit much for me.  I am thinking that I work on the basis of disinterest.  If the beliefs that are fervently held (a): Don’t have any impact on my life, and (b) seem to be harmless to the general population I just let you be you.

See, I see a lot of folks basically getting pissed off because others don’t “validate” or “celebrate” their beliefs.  I am not here to validate your beliefs, that is your job.  I celebrate shit that is important to me.

I trace this back to the “participation trophy” school of thought that has reigned supreme in the West for the past couple generations.  We have come to the mistaken opinion that everyone is good and every action deserves praise.  Neither of those two statements seem to hold water.  You are what you are.  I could give a shit less what you worship or what you do with your privates for recreation.  Doesn’t matter to me.  I will like or dislike you on the basis of who you are, not what you believe or how you act.  My beliefs and actions aren’t there for your approval either.  We either get along or we don’t.

Comments

trophies that mean something

[chefxh]

Went to district in speech, state in choir. Either came in 4th (many times) or had to leave any trophies in possession of the school (only a couple of times). Nobody below 3rd place got anything 3-dimensional, and ribbons and certificates got no respect. I got a National Merit scholarship but no degree.

That's why I keep the two dumb Homer Laughlin catering-plate trophies from EWU from their "Eagle Chef" contests. I wore the trophy chef coat until it was way too stained, then I got too fat for it and tossed it. But those plates are clean on a shelf, if not hanging on the wall.