“No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit.”
― Ansel Adams
One day when I was walking through a nearby park, I met an old man and we start talking. He talked about his early life in the military and then later on how he traveled by rail and hitchhiked all over the country. I loved his stories. Oh he expressed many views I didn’t agree with. He seemed a bit racist and his view of politics was way different than mine. I didn’t voice my disagreement tho because I wanted to hear more of his stories that so beautifully expressed his life.
It’s my experience that most people don’t take well to being told their views are mistaken, which by many means different than their own. Oh I’m not shy about expressing my particular reality tunnels either here or when asked, I just have never been comfortable negating the views of others. Think of how many stories we would miss out on if we shut someone off just because they offered an opinion, even one we chose to find offensive. Eventually people’s views especially ones we find ignorant will grow and expand given half a chance. Reality has a way of widening most viewpoints these days and seldom if ever have I seen a viewpoint narrowed by what has befallen someone.
I will always listen to people’s stories because sometimes that is the most precious thing they have to share. I have yet to meet anyone whom I couldn’t learn something from and my favourite hobby is curing my own ignorance…
Blessings, G
II – The High Priestess by G A Rosenberg 