Sunday it snowed again. I didn't mind. We were staying home anyway. After my little walk in the morning I made some lunch and Paul and I decided to hop into the hot tub.
We conversated on a number of random topics but got sort of stuck on the one where I told him I was probably the 'grayest' person he knows. In other words I have very few, if any, definate opinions on anything. I don't believe 'right or wrong' exists out of context and people who are strongly black or white trouble me. There is always a piece of something missing from my total knowledge, and knowing that, how can I even consider making a definitive declaration about something, anything?
Thats just how I feel about opinions. (I guess you could point out that is an opinion) But I also believe NOTHING is right or wrong, except in subjective, situational, arbitrary cases. Such as culture. Is eating dogs right or wrong? It depends where you are, what the societal mores are, or perhaps what the available food situation is. Is lying right or wrong? Again, it depends on cultural mores. Our culture is founded on Christian doctrine, which tells us that lying is wrong. But in other cultures, lying is just a way to do business. Is abortion wrong? Well, it depends. And who makes that qualifying determination? Is killing wrong? We send our own children out to kill the children of our neighboring countries. Is driving 45 mph wrong? Depends which road you are on and what you are driving. Depends, depends, depends.
Paul was a little disturbed. He resolutely tried to prove to me that I had values that included 'right or wrong'. I responded by explaining that I am no sociopath. I fit in to our culture. But always I think that what is wrong today, might be right tomorrow. There is only one value that I hold dear to my heart. And that is that I try very hard not to hurt other people, or in fact, anything - but even that is conditional. What if someone was hurting my child? I would most likely hurt them to stop that.
I told him that I thought there were two forces working on us. One that comes from our reptillian brains - our natural instincts, and the others that our culture dictates we conform to. I don't believe nature is arbitrary. I believe society is. I don't believe nature has 'right or wrong'. It is what it is.
And I discovered that I have some very strong anarchist tendencies.
Some snowy Sunday afternoons in the hot tub are meant for such discoveries.
Happy Winter Solstice, everyone. Enjoy your extra minute of daytime from now until June.
Peace
3 comments:
I kind of like the short days. I feel more relaxed. I think I am more like you mom. I'm always looking at both sides and how depending on the situation, both can be right or wrong...I find that I don't care what other people do as long as they don't hurt me or my fam.
x
I am so loving these videos!!!! Thanks Paul for being such a good sport.
You got a new bathing suit!!!-yea!!!!!! Lookin good, my 50 year old friend, lookin good.
Interesting conversation. I think I am a dark grey/light grey person as well. If I'm starving (not just hungry) have no money, nor prospects, no food bank to go to because I live in the Yukon, etc. Is it okay to steal??? I think so because it is always about survival in this animal world-right?
I'm curious as to your anarchist tendencies and impressed that you knew about winter solstice. Wait, that sounded like I think you're a dumbass. I don't, just haven't met anyone else familiar with it's astronomical meaning or history or anything. Okay-I'm digging a hole.
Love you!
H.
Jack just watched it. He said, "Oh no! Look Mom they have lots of Oh nos!" He now refers to the walkman as Paul and is in love with him. I think a trip this Feb. or Mar. is due with kids. Paul? you okay with that???
At the end he said, "that was a great story! I want to see Paul's car in the snow again."
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