i've heard it said that there are two things friends should never talk about: religion, and politics.
for those who don't quite get it, the implied meaning is that nobody can ever discuss those topics without getting into a disagreement.
obviously, i think this isn't true. it's merely a saying, and should be taken with about as much a grain of salt as anything that starts with "confucious says....."
however, i can't deny that religion and politics are also inherently difficult to address when civil discussion is not a given. at any given moment, and perhaps now more than ever, the two have become an undeniable schism in society.
isreal palestine is perhaps the problem incarnate.
liberals vs. conservatives. has the divide ever been greater, and filled with such hatred? there's no longer such thing as middle political ground, and i don't think there's ever been such unwillingness to compromise. ever hear two people arguing about george bush and the war in iraq? it isn't pretty. i've never seen a president or political issue cause such heated and emotional divisions among people -- not to mention irrationale stupidity on both sides.
so.....obviously, religion and politics are both loaded subjects, often broached only with a great deal of tact. why is that?
what is it about these things that strike such a chord?
why don't we argue this much about....say....pepsi or coke? which basketball team is going to win it all? the greatest baseball player of all time? the funniest tv show ever? which country has the greatest artistic history? which era of architecture was the most influential?
all interesting conversations.
but religion or politics? those so easily degrade into editorial rantings.
why? i don't know. but it's something to ponder i guess.
No comments:
Post a Comment