I thought I knew the American people.
Oh, I’ve always known that a lot of folks don’t view life in the same way I do, but that’s always been a plus for me. It meant there was something to learn from them, something that didn’t comport with my own beliefs or experiences or view of the world. That’s what made them interesting and broadening to talk to.
I was wrong.
What I’ve unwittingly protected myself from was the deep measure of resentment and anger that I now see is widespread. I’ve realized that a lot of people don’t now, or would ever, agree with me about a multitude of things, certainly religion and politics but also such minor quirks as food preferences or music styles.
What I failed to appreciate, though, was just how truly different are our ways of thinking, our points of view, our core beliefs. It’s as though we live in parallel but radically different worlds. I thought I could always rely upon conversation – language – to help me find common ground with just about anyone. I was so, so wrong.
It’s clear to me that there are people with whom I will never be able to share ideas or outlooks because the gulf between us is too great. That’s unfortunate because I’d really like to understand their thinking. It’s as though we both look at an object and see it so differently that we could never agree that it’s even an object. We don’t have the same eyes.
Leave a Reply