“Cut Here”

I love this image;

It is highly symbolic of how what we are asked to see instead of needing to see changes everything.

That is the danger of agenda.

To name two.

Conservative entities, traditionalists, will hunker down and insist that “their belief” is the only belief system that should be espoused by the system, and other ones are intrinsically suspicious, highlighting precedent acts of terrorism and atrocities motivated – on a superficial level – by religious designs, while conveniently ignoring the context as well as ones perpetrated by people on their side which they do not label as such.

Liberal entities, in the meantime, focus on “personal freedoms” while glossing over systematic problems that make the absence of personal freedoms a reality, forcing one to question how much change are they really interested in making or who is it benefiting.

So am I going for a centrist, “both sides are wrong” sort of argument?

No. I abhor centrism.

What I am going for is an invitation to you all. Instead of spouting the same arguments time and time again, invite yourself to ask questions. To learn about the context of the other side – their history, their space, their geography, the opportunities available, why those opportunities are available and not others, and so forth; why do they find it reasonable to adhere to their arguments. Maybe there is some stock to what they are saying, maybe not. You do not need to fit neatly within one side of an argument; that is the hallmark of a very vanilla identity in my view.

An idea that works in one space does not necessarily mean it works everywhere. Every context has its own nuances that requires their own deconstruction. Giving yourself the chance to have your opinion changed through reflection is not a sign of weakness but a sign of having your own mind. Bear in mind that spouting what other people say uncritically and inflexibly can lead down a very limited and colourless lifestyle.

And thus one that is easily manipulated.