In a world where everyone has an answer to every question, “I don’t know” seems a crazy idea.
But, we do not have all the answers, yet everyone claims they do.
Does the feeling of ignorance scare people so absolutely as to make it impossible for us to speak freely and acknowledge that which is missing?
I fear that I speak into a void sometimes. A void that consumes the waves floating beyond the darkness.
Yet, I still speak, hoping that my voice can somehow displace the nothingness and finally find an ear to rest on.
The political divide and thus the tribalism that consumes American politics is further exacerbated by how easily we disregard ignorance as racism— The isms/phobias do not stop there; words, not even spoken clearly and yet charges of transphobia, homophobia, xenophobia comes shooting through the air, daring the other person to come out from behind the shield of his group affiliation.
He doesn’t. He doubles down in his ignorance. Closed off by the phobia he now accepts that others believe is him.
Is it true?
is he hateful?
We do not know. No one spoke to him, no one cares to speak to him. Not from the other side at least. It’s no wonder he is now affiliated with true racists, homophobes, sexists… the list goes on.
The righteous can now go on pointing at him, shunning him, praising themselves for spotting the hate before it came out fully in the first instance.
But aren’t they responsible for helping to push the man further in the bosom of hate? Did he not, in order to defend himself, fall in the lap of those who would corrupt him precisely because of the excommunication?
No.
Righteousness is not about helping, it’s not about humility, it seems righteousness is about shame, shaming others who were wrong, using their flaws to prop up ourselves as the pinnacle of morality.
To help others would be to make them righteous; if everyone is righteous, the righteous do not have purpose.
I like my hypocrisy served cold.