Ignorance
Even the word in and of itself is "ugly".
Listen to it when you say it, pronounce it slowly, that hard sound of the "g" in the first syllable, at times it makes me want to scream!
Ignorance is the number one cause of stress and frustration in the world today.
A lack of understanding is always paramount to difficulties between people whether on a close interpersonal level or on a broader basis as in culture to culture, gender to gender, or country to country, resulting in war.
It's sad that although mankind has been on this earth for such a very, very long time that this simple three syllable word can still cause so much pain and suffering.
Ignorance is the leading cause of death in the world today.
What can cure all the ills of the world?
It's so simple it makes me nauseated.
Understanding.
If something upsets you, a belief, a custom, a system, an economy, a person, do whatever it is you can to try to understand that belief, custom, system, economy or person.
Only by ridding ourselves of ignorance can we truly find peace and serenity and well-being.
Most people fear that which they do not understand.
Fear causes a fight or flight reaction in us all.
We reject that which we don't understand rather than immersing ourselves in it in order to gain understanding.
Wouldn't the world be a lovely place if we all took the time to understand those things which make our adrenalin levels rise?
Imagine people not forming an opinion or making a statement about a person, place or thing until they had actually learned a little about that person, place or thing?
Imagine that even if that individual could not embrace that person, place or thing, that they could at least give a factual and educated reason as to why they had to reject that person, place or thing, rather than just slamming something out of hand because their initial reaction was one of dislike.
Wouldn't that be wonderful?
Then, if a person found fault with that certain person, place or thing, wouldn't it be euphoric if they actually took the time to educate others as to why the fault existed and started working toward correcting that fault rather than condemning?
I think that would be called "Utopia".
Ah, but we are but human and we all lead such hectic and busy lives that most of us never slow down long enough to try to develop our understanding, hence, we remain ignorant and mankind suffers on.
Copyright © 2008 Brigid Bishop
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