So how do we stop otherizng?
Bad news–we likely won’t. Stop, that is. Otherizing is pretty ingrained in how we deal with the world, and I suspect none of us is going to simply give it up.
Good news–we can make progress. We can increase awareness. We can work at perceiving, and at least blurring, the sharply-defined lines that divide us from others.
I even have a simple, practical place to begin. We can accept this basic, difficult-to-assimilate fact:
People don’t have to be identified with their ideas, thoughts, or actions.
Ponder that for a moment. I’ll offer an example.
FRONT RANGE FREEDOM TOUR is a community formed around shared sacrifice for a common purpose. We’re a diverse group of folks in terms of just about any characteristic you can imagine. When any group of people invests so much time, energy, and passion into any endeavor, there’s bound to be differences, disagreements, and even occasional conflicts.
We don’t always get it right, but to the best of our ability we’re one circle. Many differences. No others.
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What if winning the argument isn’t the most important thing?
What if loving and accepting a person doesn’t mean I agree with everything he thinks, says, or does?
What if I don’t have to fear, hate, or destroy everyone with whom I disagree?
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Tomorrow–one more idea.
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