Opinions

What I don't understand is why people get all upset over other people's opinions. Isn't the first amendment all about freedom of speech? Isn't that one of basic rights that has been eroded in the aftermath of 9/11?

I have read some pretty amazing comments that people have made about other people's comments. I love a hearty discussion, don't get me wrong, but when the discussion deteriorates to name calling and people deciding they're 'right' and you're 'wrong', it's no longer a discussion and the participants are no longer respecting the other's right to a different opinion.

It is difficult to live with ambiguities. The reason we have dogmatists and fundamentalists is that we humans like to have clear cut guidelines for everything. People believe in heaven because it alleviates the fear of death. People believe in reincarnation because of a need to know the soul continues on. Some people are pro-life; some are pro-choice. Some people believe that rap isn't music; some sware that country isn't music. Some people believe in more government control, some in less.

I attempt to practice the wiccan guideline, 'An it harm none, do what ye will' or the Native American practice of considering the result of an action over the next seven generations.

I could just as easily get dogmatic over these concepts as others get about Christianity or Islam. I could decide that the pro-choice people are out of line because they are harming the unborn fetus. I could say the pro-life people are out of line because the life of the mother may be harmed if she proceeds with the pregnancy. A conundrum.

Perhaps the seven generations concept is the better overall guideline. I'll use an environmental example.

A floating bridge was constructed to connect the Olympic Peninsula to the Kitsap Peninsula in Western Washington. Up to that point in time, the Orca whale would travel down the Hood Canal feasting on seals as part of its diet. After the bridge construction, the Orcas no longer travelled down the Hood Canal. The seal population increased. Their droppings contaminated the oyster and clam beds. If the seven-generation guideline had been applied and the ecosystem of the area had been observed long enough to understand the natural balance, then it would have been clear a different method of connecting the two peninsulas would have been necessary in order to keep the Hood Canal ecosystem in balance.

The difficulty with the seven-generations approach is that decisions can't be made quickly. Maybe that's the point. Our world is constantly looking for instant this and instant that. And I'm included in that. Some days I wonder what I would do without the internet. I would probably be a lot better off!!