July 30th, 2018

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

 
The other day I sat with a man who has a project of talking with 100 people.  We talked about many things but one of the things we spoke about was the right for everyone to speak, since that is one of the things guaranteed by our Constitution - freedom of speech. Mark Zukerberg,  also took the same tack when he allowed what had been identified as ‘hate groups’ to post on Facebook.  When I first heard about it, I didn’t think that hate groups should be allowed on college campuses to give talks in classes or to post on social media with the purpose of inciting violence. Then I heard someone give a Ted talk who said something like this - from the haters, I learned about love, from the dictators I learned about democracy, from the racists I learned about equality. The point being when we listen to others arguments it allows us to sort through the facts or distortions. It makes us think and reevaluate our position, which, in fact may reinforce it. 
 
This man also told a story of a professor who was a survivor of Treblinka, one of the worst of the Nazi war camps, if you can even make that distinction.  He was teaching a history class.  A student wearing a Nazi uniform sat in the front row of the class repudiating everything the professor said about the Second World War.  At the end of the class, the professor said he was extending the lecture topic since there had been so much disruption.  The following week to everyone’s surprise, the student still in his fascist uniform, gave the lecture and presented the case for fascism. The professor never interrupted.  At the end of class, he merely said something like – see you next week.
 
The following week during the class the professor took apart the student ‘s argument point by point illustrated with facts. The purpose of my relating what is someone else’s story, is that it points out a really important fact.  Eventually, the flaws in falsehood and illogic come to light. They cannot stand up in the glare of truth.
 
At the same time, it is important that we examine our own beliefs constantly and that we stand by what is true for us only after careful examination.  We can always learn and grow.  Those who don’t will get caught in their own creations that differ from truth. Take out the emotion and be a searcher after truth.  The truth that goes beyond our own personal world and holds true for the good of all.
 
Be in your integrity and don’t let anyone pull you from it.
My best to you,
Dianne, Destiny Coach