Marilynne Robinson's article about reclaiming a sense of the sacred was interesting, although difficult for me to read. She wrote very poetically, and at the same time, very technically. It was also really long. However, I was left with much to think about.
In Robinson's words, "If we think we have done this voiding of content for the sake of other people, those to whom we suspect God may have given a somewhat lesser brilliance than our own, we are presumptuous and also irreverent". For Robinson, trying to avoid ideological content for the sake of not offending others, we may as well not do anything at all. Why create something meaningful, when you can't even put the meaning into that you feel? I agree with her on this. I believe that if you are going to write something, say an article like hers, which is filled with your own opinions and strong beliefs, why leave out that which is most controversial? While it may offend some, that is not the purpose. The purpose is to share your opinions, whatever they may be. In fact, I think it would be of utmost importance to mention the controversial, because it demonstrates that your argument has been approached, educatedly, through both sides. But in the end, people will either agree with you, or they won't. It's not up to you who will side with you and who won't, so don't worry about trying to please everyone, because you won't be able to.
Conversely, it is important to not be offensive. While I believe there may always be at least one person out there who will take offense, it is important to not try to be offensive. Don't speak or write in ways that set out to bring others beliefs down, and don't try to discredit other people's ideologies. Instead, focus your argument on what you believe about your own beliefs and why you believe the way you do. When mentioning others religions and paradigms, be respectful. Don't act like you know everything about what they believe and what they stand for, because you don't know.
Above all, we should encourage interaction which demonstrates that we are adults who can stand to be in peaceful disagreement with others. After having accepted that not everyone will see eye to eye with us, we must realize that they have just as much right to their opinions as we do to ours, no matter how disagreeable their opinions may be. Positive interactions, tolerance, and love for our fellow men should be what prevail. I would encourage not being so quick to argue, and to engage in demeaning behavior of any kind. No matter the opposition received, it is important to be the bigger man. Do not stoop to the level of bringing others down, even if it is what they do to you.
The Meet Your Farmers films are a good example of respectful interaction. While I am sure there are plenty of negative things going on behind the scenes with regards to their farming, the videos portray the farmers in a positive light, and depict them as the hard working people they are. I'm sure they all have their faults, but I'm also sure that the inclusion of such slander would not only be ineffective, but would also be inappropriate and would lead to digression rather than progress. In my opinion, the sacred lies in positive progression. To consecrate ourselves, we must first uplift, respect, inspire, and love everyone, no matter how much they displease us.
Amen and Amen. Especially paragraph 2.
ReplyDeleteI agree with a lot that you have here. Too many people are trying too hard to no offend anyone and playing the "safe card" that their art is restricting itself which therefore leads to the artist not being able to reach their full potential. It is true that we must be careful not to offend anyone on purpose, but I think that there are different levels of offense. There are some images, dialogue, etc. that is very clear and offensive like using racial slang or racial images to portray an opinion. However, there are little things that some people blow way out of proportion. For example some people get offended when they see a male dominant role in a film whose character towers over other roles in which some happen to be women. There are those who will say that the film is sexist when that is not the intention at all especially if there are other male roles in the same position. There are some people out there only looking for what is offensive so they can appear on TV as someone who sewed a big company. As long as we do our part in being careful and not intentionally offending anyone then we are just fine in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteWell, I glad that you were willing to admit that this was not only long but difficult to read. I do like how you mentioned her thoughts about sharing that which might offend. It is as a matter of fact true that no matter what we say we could offend someone. Obviously we should not be rude, but we should also not be so tolerant of what others believe that we do not even express our own.
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