Controversy and Politics

Yesterday's post apparently got more people's attention than normal.  It seems that controversial subjects draw folks like flies are drawn to a rotting carcass.  I probably have images of a rotting carcass somewhere on this computer, but I figured it best to put something more symbolic at the top, such as this post.  It's a crooked post -- at least from this angle -- but, I suspect if you look at it in line with the fence it appears to be fairly straight.

Our points of view certainly impact our interpretation of things.  Age apparently, based on some of the comments yesterday, is a big factor in that point of view.  The amount of travel we have done and exposure to other cultures also affects our view of things.  Our religious beliefs or, maybe I should better state that as "moral beliefs," also influence how we look at events, people and things.

Apparently something I said in yesterday's post triggered the idea that my commentary was racist in some respect.  It certainly wasn't intended that way; race never entered my mind.  I think race is a misconstrued concept anyway since there is an endless gradation in skin color, eye color, facial features, etc.  Human genetics has become so blended that the concept of race is mostly fallacy anyway except, perhaps, in the case of a few isolated people groups.

Switching gears:  I watched the Presidential State of the Union speech last night.  There really shouldn't have been anything controversial there except that the three figures most prominent throughout were old and white (there's that perception of race again) however, controversy had been injected into the speech before it was ever given since the Impeachment debacle is still ongoing.  I suppose it was simply symptomatic of that ongoing power struggle between the House Speaker and the President that prompted the apparent rancor between them exhibited in a snubbed handshake, a non-traditional introduction and a torn up speech.  The Speaker reminded me of a viper in a cage that really wanted to strike, but knew the glass would just chip a tooth.  I refused to watch the rebuttal -- which the concept of a rebuttal to a State of the Union speech just simply makes no sense to me.  Everything is viewed as political in Washington when instead, it should be about what is being done to help "we the people" experience a better life.

One thing is certain; if I want to increase the readership of my blog I need to stick to controversial topics.  My typical blog traffic usually goes up with a politically related post, but it literally soared yesterday with the commentary regarding the Super Bowl halftime show.  I'm not in it for the readership.  Other than the occasional post that stirs things up I'll probably stick with the ordinary, everyday, hopefully positive message that is my norm.

Perspective

Sometimes keeping proper perspective is a matter of examining things through others point of view.  Things look very differently from the bottom looking up than they do from the top looking down.  This is important for managers to keep in mind when they interact with those below, or above, them in a corporate structure.  It is something every employee should consider.

The same could also be said for perspective based on age.  A child sees the world very differently from a teenager who sees it very differently from a young adult and so on until you, hopefully, see the world from the point of the aged who have a wealth of experience from which to draw that has helped to shape their view of things.  Growth and the passage of time changes how one views people, places, things and events.

Wealth is relative, but it also can change ones perspective.  If you are struggling to put food on your table you see the world very differently from someone who can't spend in a year what they make in a day.  Yes, there really are people who have that kind of money; they have no concept of poverty yet, they are often the ones who dictate policy.

When dealing with others, it is important that we take the time to try and understand their perspective.  Doing so has been one of the most valuable things I learned through the years.  It has served me well in management, in sales and in life.  I have to admit that I have not always been successful in my attempt to understand other perspectives, but the effort has always been rewarding.  People respect you for trying if done sincerely.

Conflict sometimes is the result of a failure to understand other perspectives.  When you find yourself in a situation where you are in disagreement with others, spend time seeking to understand their perspective.  Generally it will provide insight into why your views are different and sometimes even provide a pathway to resolving those differences.

The image at the top of this page was taken from an old bridge looking down into the water below at the reflection of the sky above.  In this single image there are three perspectives represented.  The first is from the bridge looking downward.  The second is from the water looking upward.  The third is less obvious, but it is from the bridge looking upward via the reflection in the water.

I think the lesson from the image is that we all will see more clearly if we focus upward.  If we keep our eyes on the Father we aren't looking down on anyone and we all will see essentially the same thing.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." -- Hebrews 12:2