Tags
"equal", "fair", insanitybytes22, just, opinion, peacemakers, truth
I’m just going to vent a wee bit here, express my displeasure over that little saying and the whole nature of peacekeeping, not to be confused with peacemaking.
If you can’t stand for something you are going to fall for anything.
There really is a right and a wrong in most situations. A truth! We live in this really morally relative world where people are often afraid to take a stand, they don’t want to be perceived as choosing sides, they are reluctant to risk alienating anyone, and they want to be perceived as fair.
The first casualty of that stance is always going to be the truth.
I know a fair amount about this issue on account of the fact that I can be gloriously “stuck in the middle with you,” clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, as the song goes. About as lukewarm about most things as it is possible to get. Totally avoidant. I will go along to get along, mostly just because many things are unimportant to me and I like to avoid conflict. Also, most things are hardly worth the trouble.
It’s really ironic that I have that tendency myself sometimes, because when I look back at my life the one thing that has done the most harm to me, caused the most wounding, is when other people have been unable to stand up for for what is right. It’s been a huge betrayal so many times. We can have pity party about it too, with balloons and cake and everything, my point simply being, it is not a virtue to try to avoid conflict and forever attempt to play the middle.
I just groan when people say “I want to be fair to both sides,” because without fail what that really means is that the next thing coming out of your mouth is going to be really unfair, really unjust.
Double awful unjust when people claim they want to be fair, they’re not picking sides….and then they proceed to demonstrate that they ARE picking sides. I call that “bias denial,” well, that’s not the first word that comes to my mind, but you get the idea.
All things are not equal! We’re living in a world that really wants everything to be fair and balanced, but that is simply an unrealistic and unjust expectation that will actually create more injustice. It always does.
I’m a big fan of hospitality, it’s kind of my role, it’s who I am, it’s what I like to do, and the last thing I want to do ever, is make someone feel cast out or left out. I’ve been there and done that myself so many times, but in the process I have learned that yes there are some things worth fighting for, some hills worth dying on.
My biggest nemesis has actually often been other Christians who often seem to believe that there is something in our faith that demands we be wishy washy, passive, and accommodating in all things.
The first casualty of that stance is always going to be the truth.
“Peacekeeping” is when you insist that if everyone would just ignore the giant pink elephant in the room and pretend it isn’t even there, we would have “peace.” “Peacemaking” is when you turn the lights on.
“I just groan when people say “I want to be fair to both sides,””
The reason that Leftists harp on “fairness” is because they have weaponized fairness for use against truth and justice. If justice and truth are “unfair” then the demand for “fairness” must win out. “Fairness” being arbitrarily defined by themselves, of course.
LikeLiked by 7 people
Ahh, good point. “Weaponzied fairness,” I like that term because it really captures the nature of the problem.
A few years back there was this drunk guy who would sit on the curb being belligerent until he passed out. So finally the coffee shop called the cops and the cop goes, ” Well, I really think we need to get all perspectives and come up with a plan that’s fair to everyone involved. There are often two sides to every story.” He was an earnest young guy and we’re very “homeless” friendly here, but I just rolled my eyes and thought, “are you flippin kidding me?”
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you are right, it’s only fair that we see a bit more of that Old Testament treatment with lightning and locus and boulders and slaughter and rape and torture. Where’s the big guy now days, let him flex a little muscle and let’s spread the distraughtness of the Middle East over the last few thousand years across the globe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your sarcasm, if I may call it such, does not become you, O my brother.
That’s quite a leap, jumping to the conclusion that to question the fairness of weaponized fairness is the equivalent of Global Imperialism.
Nice try, though, doofus, do spin again.
LikeLike
Your passive posturing is limp, your general knowledge is hallow and you “fluff” like a porn star.
I just want to know what in the hell you’re talking about. “Questioning the fairness of weaponized fairness is the equivalent of global imperialism”
WHAT THE WHAT?
LikeLike
My rhetoric seems to have gone over your head. Maybe you should ask your mommy.
LikeLike
You simply blather words like a pseudo-intellectually pipe down Dunning Kruger.
LikeLike
Is that the best your mommy could come up with?
LikeLike
I dun know, I though your mommy was my mommy.
LikeLike
If you don’t know ask your mommy’s boyfriend.
LikeLike
I thought I was your mommies boyfriend.
LikeLike
Have you ever read The Rule of St Benedict?
It was the very first monastic handbook Benedict wrote centuries ago— it is still so relevant that businesses have often had their leadership read it— it is not a big or complicated handbook whatsoever- just practical— and it begins with that thought of yours regarding hospitality—
It might be something pleasant to read- a small distraction from the current madness— I pull it out from time to time when I need reminding of how to be decent and kind to all while remaining Christ centered and Christ focused— and then ponder that living as a monastic hermit in a cave might be nice….a great play book from 516 AD
LikeLiked by 5 people
Awesome, I have not read it and I was just looking for a book to read. Thanks, Julie, I’ll look into it and check it out. “The Rule of St Benedict,” sounds good. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
https://www.catholiccompany.com/rule-of-saint-benedict-paperbound-i130903/?sku=1006865&utm_source=google&utm_medium=products&mrkgadid=3282265907&mrkgcl=254&mrkgen=gpla&mrkgbflag=0&mrkgcat=&acctid=21700000001657482&dskeywordid=92700046560262795&lid=92700046560262795&ds_s_kwgid=58700005267918216&ds_s_inventory_feed_id=97700000007140144&dsproductgroupid=452997893954&product_id=1006865&merchid=236242&prodctry=US&prodlang=en&channel=online&storeid=%7Bproduct_store_id%7D&device=m&network=g&matchtype=&locationid=9010956&creative=247388888131&targetid=pla-452997893954&campaignid=1045291430&adgroupid=52902610018&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3cSekM3I6wIVieDICh36gwkREAQYAyABEgIj6_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
But you can find it anywhere
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! 🙂
LikeLike
@Insanitybytes22
It is kind of sad how we abuse words. The word “fair” eventually will mean the opposite of what it means today.
We take a word and use the connotation of that word to cover up what we doing. To defend being unfair, we call ourselves “fair”. We make the word “fair” a mask for our hypocrisy. Thus, by misusing a word we destroy it because in time people come to hate and despise the mask. Yet it is the wearer of the mask we should punish, not the word.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some people have the ability to be relatively fair, but it’s rare.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m just glad I’m not the only person who remembers that song!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! It’s still a good song, after all these years. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
We Americans tend to be so sure that every issue has two sides. As it happens, many issues have more than two sides. On top of that, some issues have a clear yes and no (no third choice), while others have two bad extremes and a good place between the extremes. Before we try to see “both sides” and find some sort of compromise in the middle, we have to make sure that we aren’t missing any sides; then we have to discover whether the middle is the best place to be. Sometimes it is; sometimes it isn’t. J.
LikeLiked by 2 people
“We live in this really morally relative world where people are often afraid to take a stand, they don’t want to be perceived as choosing sides, they are reluctant to risk alienating anyone, and they want to be perceived as fair.
The first casualty of that stance is always going to be the truth.”
Very true. Well said, IB. This is a biggy for pastors who are not supposed to be “political.” We are told we will alienate half of the people we could otherwise reach. So, we’ve been under this kind of cancel culture for a long time! 🙂
However, there is another way, IF people are open (which is a big “if!”) In good relational communication we don’t want fairness, we want understanding. Do I hear what you’re saying, even if I may think it’s wrong? So, my first goal is connection. If the other person feels like they’re being heard, then they will be open to what you have to say. But any dialogue like this must always have a trajectory toward the truth, otherwise it perpetuates lies which leads to bondage. This is why relativism always produces confusion. Only knowing the truth makes us truly free.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You make a really good point about how the purpose of communication is actually connection and understanding, not necessarily agreement. Indeed, the truth has to enter into the equation somewhere, but long before we even get to that point there has to be some emotional maturity going on and some respect established.
LikeLiked by 1 person