The older I get, it seems the less things in life make sense. I used to scoff when my grandparents would say things like that…funny how life turns around full circle, isn’t it?
1. I don’t understand how people with so much in common can find so much to disagree on. Seriously — I bet there is someone in your office, family, neighborhood or religious congregation that represents a completely different political opinion than you. Guess what: you probably have a lot in common with that person. No really — I bet you eat at some of the same restaurants, want similar things for your children and society at large, and probably even watch some of the same television shows. But the only thing we focus on is our differences and we make that bone of contention unbreakable. Why? What do we accomplish beyond driving a wedge?
2. Religious folks. In general, I just don’t get them. I hear a lot of talk about living like Christ…yet I see more damage done is his name, than healing. I’ve found more acceptance and friendship among those who are heretics and agnostics, than I ever have in the church. I seem to recall Christ coming to shake up the Jewish faith, to restore to the people their Messiah, and befriending the masses regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or social standing. Where is that in the modern church?
3. Greed. Oh, I think I get it. Some days, I want things I can’t have. So much so I fantasize about how much I would enjoy it until the credit card showed up. Then I know I wouldn’t like it near as much, and I put that dream away. Yet we are a society that lives on greed and “Iwanits.” Sure, I’ve made my share of poor financial decisions, but rarely have my motives fallen into the greed category — more of the “need” category. Still, I watch people who have money, who have accumulated wealth quickly, and all I see is misery and a sick need for more.
4. Job Interviews that involve lists of questions. What is the point? It’s like a first date. All proper conversation and elegant claims to future destinies. Have a conversation, for Pete’s sake. See what makes the person tick. Finding a good employee is less about background and credit checks, and more about chemistry and understanding their underlying moral composite.
I’m sure I’ll have more before this post is done. For now…that’s what’s been on my mind.
Posted by williek on March 16, 2010 at 3:48 am
1. Differences generate stronger emotions than similarities. We are emotional creatures first and rational creatures second. Differences are a potential danger, so we focus on them and respond to them.
2. There is a lot of that, but there is a lot of acceptance also. It is very easy to become a Pharisee as opposed to a Christian. It is safe to have a rigid set of behaviors and acceptance criteria. One can then feel gloriously self-righteous. They behave correctly and only associate with those who also behave correctly. They must remain spotless. Also with a rigid set of criteria one is spared the burden of judgment which requires thinking. It is like the difference between ideals and ideology.
3. There is a difference between greed as in desiring and earning money and as in money by any means. The first leads to wealth for all, but mostly the wealth generator, and the second is simply a form of looting. Businesses that want government favors of any type belong to the second group. They want money but don’t care about the morality by which it is obtained. There are people who substitute money for what is missing in their lives. They constitute much of the miserable group. There are also people who make money as an expression of themselves. It is less the money than the making of it that counts, but they often end up very wealthy, and rightfully so.
4. Laziness on the part of the interviewers. It is part of an attempt to do the impossible, prevent a bad employee from being hired. It is also a reflection of our growing inability to interact constructively with people. People now spend more time in isolation or with electronic media than with other people. They no longer know how to interact other than very superficially. There is nothing wrong with guides to questions to make sure some indication of various areas of needed knowledge are discussed. However, reading down a list of questions indicates and inability on the part of the interviewer–”fairness” be damned. Every person is different and a good interviewer gives them the opportunity to look their best as well as probing possible weaknesses. It’s an art, not a science.