Friday, May 8, 2020 –
It seems like everyone has their favorite “expert” for every little issue, whether it is a global pandemic, murder hornets, or something as benign as which vegetables to eat. Having an opinion on something is not a bad thing. In fact, a well-formed opinion that you can defend with hard facts shows true intelligence and a person’s ability to think for themselves.
The problem is when someone only uses one expert to form the basis for their rationale. It creates a seriously myopic view that fails to understand the great many facets of a problem. Further, when you only argue from one viewpoint while simultaneously sticking your fingers in your ears and going, “LA, LA, LA,” it not only shows others you are a bad listener, but you are also incredibly unsympathetic.
Take for example the current pandemic. Many people have their favored scientist, doctor, or conspiracy theorist that they use to bolster the entirety of their viewpoint. I am not arguing for any one person or theory over the other, but I do question only looking at one side—or even one person of one side—of this problem. The fact is that the current pandemic touches on many, many issues.
Yes, there is public health, but even within that realm there are a number of topics and disagreements: to mask or not mask; how far apart should social distancing be; is the outdoors safe or not; etc. On top of health there are civil rights, personal rights, individual safety, economics, social issues, food insecurities, and so forth.
A great analogy I have come across is that we are all in the same storm, but definitely not in the same boat. Some are in a luxury yacht feeling very few effects of the storm. Others are in a sinking dingy. A few of us may even have lost our boat and are barely holding on to our last scrap of wood. The storm still rages on, but we are not all handling it the same way.
For some, this storm is devastating on a medical level. For others, the lack of work is leading to food insecurity and possibly starvation. There are people deeply suffering from being trapped at home with their abusers. The suicide and domestic violence rates are up. Again, people are having different experiences.
There are many overarching issues at play. No one problem is greater than another. The point is that we each need to consider where another person is coming from. If they are more focused on a particular issue, then that is what is most concerning to THEM. You probably have a different focus, and therefore different experts.
Stop and take a moment to put yourself in other people’s shoes. If economics is your greater concern, then read more about the health issues at play. If you are in the boat of only focusing on “flattening the curve” at the cost of all else, you should definitely pick up some materials regarding the increase in domestic violence. Likewise, if all you care about is regaining (or maintaining) your personal liberties, then try to understand why someone else is so frightened about their health.
Go outside your comfort zone! Read more than just one side and really try to think about the myriad of problems we are all facing. It is not easy to reach outside your own myopic view, but you must if you want to understand someone else’s pain.
Gabriel the Archangel, intercede for us!
