Opinion: Idealism

Idealism.

It seems so many of my generation, or we could further generalize to around the college age, are incredibly idealistic and incredibly polarized in their opinions. Vegetarians (“don’t eat the poor animals/they all suffer/etc”), political stances (“Give peace a chance/War is evil and pointless/etc”), or just overall post-modern relative thought (“truth is relative/everyone should get along/that’s what you believe/etc”). The list could grow further, but I think that on some level , you all know what I’m talking about.

Now, for some reason, this great idealism drives me up a wall. After giving it some thought, I’ve found two things: One is that often times people don’t take time to explore these idealistic beliefs they hold—they polarize the topic, and never look over to the other side. The other is that I’m not an idealist.

I’m not an optimist.

Nor a pessimist.

I suppose I’d call myself a realist. Or perhaps fatalistic.

Allow me to explain. I think that peace is a good thing. But I also know that peace will never occur. Why? Because humans are inherently evil. If 99 out of 100 people wanted peace, that 1 moron would kill someone. I don’t think we can live in perfect harmony.

Well that’s bold, you say.

I’m just repeating the words of a man who told his disciples that things would get worse before they got better. Yes, at one point, he mentions there will be a period of peace—but merely a calm before the storm. Sure, war is hell, but it’s inevitable (there it is, the fatalistic streak)! That doesn’t justify anything, any atrocity done, but it explains it. People have been fighting since…. Ohh Cain and Abel? Maybe Adam (you conned me into it!) was ticked at Eve (You didn’t have to listen to me, moron), or vice versa, and THAT was the first fight. Regardless, it happens and will happen and that is the sad state of human nature.

I won’t even pay the whole vegetarian thing any mind. Granted, some of my good friends are vegan, but honestly I find the whole thing … what’s a kind word for dumb? Oh well…

Politics annoy me. I hold my own political views, but too many people I’ve met don’t CARE about YOUR views—they want to hear your views long enough to argue with you. THEY are right, who cares what you think. The EXACT same things goes with religious topics. Sure, I know what I believe. I hold to it. But I hate talking about it in certain contexts because I know the person just wants to argue. Arguments are entirely pointless because no one listens.

Truth is absolute, but both sides of the argument should be considered. It’s like taking the time to learn the language of another culture: you are showing that you are interested and care enough to learn something different. I’m not going to impress my beliefs on anyone, but I will sure tell them about them. It is their choice from there.

Is that what this is all about? Choice? I think so. It’s our own choice, but often times people don’t care that it was your choice or opinion—only theirs is right.

Discussion > argument.