One.
The universe is not black and white.
Reality is ultra-colourful.
One of the surest ways to disconnect from reality is to choose binaries as your model for understanding.
In/Out
Us/Them
Good/Evil
Truth/Lies
There is an infinite number of points between any of those extremes. And funky mashups too: it is possible to lie while stating nothing but facts. It is possible to illuminate the truth with made-up stories.
Every loathsome person is infinitely more complex than the things they are hated for. Every issue over which we divide us into opposing sides spewing vitriol across battle lines is rich with nuance.
The fact that this is an unpopular and unfashionable thing to say does not make it any less true.
Seeing colour, nuance and complexity does not need to result in inaction. It can result in more generous, more creative, more effective action.
When everyone is screaming in black and white, look for the colour.
Two.
Look at this missile launch! It’s coming from the ground at the right, shooting diagonally up and left on its mission to deliver death.
Oh – hold up – it’s a rainbow.
Learn to see in colour.
Three.
Cristale grabbed my attention last week.
A good example of reality as a spectrum. I lived in the UK for 20 years without hearing a good thing about Mary Whitehouse. Then I read this article. It turns out, of course, there was more to her than the stories I heard.
Grow slowly
Jeff
Well put. Thank you
This is so important! We need so much more nuance in our world right now