Day 38 (Nov. 16) - Perspective

There's been so much talk over the past weeks and months about political candidates and platforms that it feels like such a relief to have the election over and done.  However, the results of the recent elections, especially the presidential election, have not quieted the rhetoric, at least not from the masses.  And, what may have been friendly banter has turned into fear and hatemongering.

If you haven't been in Antarctica for the past year, if you've followed the news recently, if you have seen any social media feed (not necessarily a source for accurate, objective news) over the past 10 days, it seems as though the results of the recent vote has stirred the fears of a great many of Americans.  And, I can see why, at least partially.

Why is there so much fear being expressed?  It could be that they are students of history, and they fear we're doomed to repeat it.  It could be that their personal history and experience tells them that people who act like x or talk like y are dangerous.  It very well is a fear of the unknown. 

Are the fears unwarranted? Perhaps. Perhaps not.  However, my thought on what is missing is that people are seeing things from only their perspective, without stopping to view someone else's point of view.  When that happens, there's really no opportunity for civil discourse.  There's no allowance for another's experience, for their knowledge, for their history, for their voice to be heard.  It's a matter of perspective.

What is perspective? Well, if you're drawing, it is used to give the illusion of depth and distance.  Or, if we want to keep things in proper perspective, it's to view things in their true relations or relative importance.  It is the interrelation in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed.  It comes from the Latin perspectus, past participle of perspicere to look through, see clearly, from per- through + specere to look." This, and the other definitions, can be read from the Merriam-Webster dictionary here.  There's also an interesting discussion of perspective and its relation to standpoint, and the way one sees things because of who one is and what one does.  That seems like a poignant thought.

I have felt in the past that I am one who could open my eyes to see others for who they are, and to see things from their point of view.  I think most are familiar with the saying of "walking a mile in someone else's shoes."  When we do that, we have a chance to see others, to better understand them, to empathize with them.    We can see why they might see things differently than we do. 

However, I've found that when fear and pain set in, I have very little chance to see anyone's perspective but my own.  That's a physiological response.  But, unless I counter it, I will prevent myself from being able to logically interact with another person.  I won't be able to see their view point.  I may not be able to see them at all if I'm too gripped by fear.

We need to take the time to wear another's shoes, to understand each other's stories, to hear another's history.  After we've done that, we can then have opportunity to relate, to appreciate the other's perspective and move forward together.