Funny

Today, I received this in my e-mail,. While I found it funny, I actually found it fairly indicative of the way Americans think about things. It kind of points toward our fundamental lack of understanding of the world around us. I have to admit, we're pretty sheltered when it comes to people and cultures different from ours. I think that the cause of this ignorance is, first and foremost, our education system. We aren't taught anything about the world outside of America while we are in school. Well, I suppose I should qualify that statement by saying that I wasn't. I can't speak for anyone else, honestly. I didn't pursue a university level education, so I can't speak for that either. What I do recall, however, is that most of my opinions and ideas about the world I loved in were formed out of my constant scepticism toward what I was being told. I never took what my teachers told me at face value. For some reason, I always knew that there was more to the story. Because of that scepticism and, frankly, curiosity, I sought answers beyond what I was told in the history books I had.

There was no such thing as the internet back then. Well, there wasn't an internet that was publicly available then. So, I had to read. I studied debate and philosophy in high school, so I had a basic understanding of logic. I applied that sense of scepticism with my newly acquired sense of logic and started hanging out at the library at USF (University of South Florida). As my classes in debate wore on, I found that I had a natural ability to engage in what is known as Lincoln-Douglas style debate. My coach absolutely loved that I could shut just about anyone down rather easily. Now, this was high school, so it wasn't like I was debating the debate champion at Harvard. It wasn't really all that difficult for a person with an open mind to be able to defeat a person who is wrapped up in their own ignorant ideas of what is wrong and what is right. I have long said that there was no such thing as wrong or right when it came to dealing with things that were different. There was only different and how you chose to allow it to affect you. See, no one can make you feel or think or act in any way. You are responsible for the way you think and feel. You are in control of yourself. The things your teachers taught you were only stepping stones to the larger picture. They are simply the needle in your compass, pointing you in a direction. You have to take the steps to reach your final destination. My only hope is that you will reach truth.

This is why I titled ths blog the way I did. I titled it "The Compass" because it is my intention to point the reader in the direction of truth. Not truth the way I see it. Truth the way you see it. I do not expect that you are going to see things the way that I do. How could I? You aren't in possession of my brain or my eyes. You haven't lived my life, so your opinions are swayed by your own experiences. That's a beautiful part of life. Diversity in opinion and ideology. It interests me. Tell me what you think, because I am honestly interested in knowing!

This picture is rather humorous. It's also rather sad at the same time. What do you think?