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Published On: Apr 26, 2006 10:02 PM
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Published On: Apr 26, 2006 10:02 PM
Neutrality in Conflict
I'm at a rest stop about 20 miles west of Billy
the Kid's alleged grave, and I'm headed east towards the Texas panhandle. While
I was driving along, I had a thought, and decided to stop and write about it
(which was the original idea behind the whole Asatour thing
anyway).
I found myself staring at and thinking about bumper stickers. Not the ones advertising businesses, but the preachy ones. "It's a child, not a choice." "Burn my flag and I'll burn you." That kind of thing. They're annoying and stupid, I thought. I don't want to be exposed to your political or religious ideology just because your car happens to be in front of mine. On the other hand, I really liked that one I saw yesterday that said "Dude, where's my country...."
And that's where I caught myself. I realized I wasn't being fair, neutral and objective, and began mentally chastising myself for it. If I'm against preachy bumper stickers, I shouldn't make exceptions for the ones I agree with....
Caught myself again. Why shouldn't I allow myself to have an opinion on things, in my own private little universe? Everything doesn't have to be fair; after all, I'm sure there are lots of people out there with the exact opposite view of those same bumper stickers to balance out my own. I don't have to be neutral in my own mind, and yet I feel this strange desire to do so. This also reveals itself in a tendency to play devil's advocate in just about any given situation, a trait those that know me well will recognize easily enough.
Maybe it's why I feel closer to Tyr than the other Aesir. The whole thing about the loss of the hand is an example of fairness taken to extreme; his reaction in Lokasenna when the topic is brought up confirms this -- that his own discomfort is mirrored by Fenris's.
Of course, as anyone who's read this or who knows me knows, I DO have opinions -- lots of them. I never claimed to be consistent.
Well, I'm off. Miles to go before I sleep.
I found myself staring at and thinking about bumper stickers. Not the ones advertising businesses, but the preachy ones. "It's a child, not a choice." "Burn my flag and I'll burn you." That kind of thing. They're annoying and stupid, I thought. I don't want to be exposed to your political or religious ideology just because your car happens to be in front of mine. On the other hand, I really liked that one I saw yesterday that said "Dude, where's my country...."
And that's where I caught myself. I realized I wasn't being fair, neutral and objective, and began mentally chastising myself for it. If I'm against preachy bumper stickers, I shouldn't make exceptions for the ones I agree with....
Caught myself again. Why shouldn't I allow myself to have an opinion on things, in my own private little universe? Everything doesn't have to be fair; after all, I'm sure there are lots of people out there with the exact opposite view of those same bumper stickers to balance out my own. I don't have to be neutral in my own mind, and yet I feel this strange desire to do so. This also reveals itself in a tendency to play devil's advocate in just about any given situation, a trait those that know me well will recognize easily enough.
Maybe it's why I feel closer to Tyr than the other Aesir. The whole thing about the loss of the hand is an example of fairness taken to extreme; his reaction in Lokasenna when the topic is brought up confirms this -- that his own discomfort is mirrored by Fenris's.
Of course, as anyone who's read this or who knows me knows, I DO have opinions -- lots of them. I never claimed to be consistent.
Well, I'm off. Miles to go before I sleep.
Posted: Wed - August 3, 2005 at 05:01 AM