Safe in our Silos

'They' say it's never good to begin with an apology but I must. A few weeks ago I posted some controversial articles on my Facebook wall. They were posted with the caveat that I would not be commenting on either the articles themselves or any comments made about the articles. What people didn't know is that the articles were essentially bait for a social experiment. To those who found themselves in the "trap" I apologize but there was no other way to do it. You can't test people's raw reactions if you warn them first. I did expect some heated comments but I was not expecting to have people unfriend me and block me when I never even stated if I agreed or disagreed with the articles.

The articles were related to the topic of transsexuality. Definitely a current and very divisive issue. However there was no reason why I chose that topic other than the reasons mentioned. I knew it would spark a reaction and it did.

But I'm not here to talk about that issue or any other specific issue. I'm here to talk about our inability to truly discuss issues. I'm here to expose our increasingly thin skin. Our need to attack first and ask questions later if we ever ask them at all. I remember when I was a child hearing adults say "you never discuss politics or religion". What that really translates to is that we don't discuss anything of a sensitive or potentially divisive nature at all. In an increasingly complex culture where does that leave us? It leaves us in silos.

I am a Seventh-day Adventist pastor which labels me so heavily before I say a word that discussion is pretty much impossible. However I believe we're so entrenched in our own silos that it wouldn't matter what my labels were. We tolerate like minds only and even then we are guarded. There is so much anger. I am learning anger is often rooted in fear or pain. It means a nerve has been touched and since we have no skills to process divisive issues we simply respond with anger.

I used to think anger, attacks, and judging were signs of immaturity that educated people were above. Surely with degrees involving classes in psychology and sociology we can interact with other minds that don't think exactly like ours and come away more informed if not enriched by the experience. However I am not finding that to be the case. Those with multiple degrees and years of experience seem as prone to building silos and reacting with anger as anyone else. In fact in some cases it is even worse. It seems some use education not as a vehicle to broaden the mind but rather to narrow it, reading books and articles and studies that only affirm what they already believed before they did any "research".

One of the articles I posted was from a long tenured chair at John's Hopkins but that didn't matter at all to those who disagreed with his views and research based article. He was called a crackpot and worse. Now don't get me wrong. I am not saying he was right or that the study he referenced was the only or best research on the topic. However for an educated person to counter the work of another educated person it should involve counter points, alternate research, and a level of mutual respect. This is the point. It's not about who is right or wrong. The idea that any of us are 100% right about anything is pretty arrogant if not at least suspect. Can't we at least listen?

I suppose we shouldn't be surprised. When I was in high school our English/History class spent a couple of months with our classroom set up as a model of Parliament. Each student was given a riding where they served as the MP. The conservatives were in power at the time and the Liberals were the official opposition. Each class we began with question period as they do in Ottawa when the house is in session. Sometimes we got a little unruly and were a tad on the immature side. After the two months of class we took a field trip to Ottawa and sat in on a parliamentary session. I was shocked. I expected them to behave with class and decorum but they were more immature and out of line than we were. They acted as though their sole role was to sling mud at each other and discredit and disrespect each other. Perhaps that was an usually bad day on the Hill. Maybe there was a full moon.

Sadly I am not inclined to believe it was an exception. Our last leading party ran attack ads when it wasn't even election time. South of the border we don't have to look or listen very long to see how low our leaders will sink in their endeavour to convince us they are the best.

Is this what we have come to? We think ourselves wise and advanced. We imagine that society is evolving in intellect and culture but the evidence is lacking.

We can't even have conversations. We can't even entertain an idea that falls outside of our silo of "truth". We behave as if all would be well in the world if everyone thought like the guy or gal in our mirror. Here in Alberta almost 90000 people were displaced because of a horrific forest fire and some thought it the perfect launching pad to get on their soap box and beat their favourite political or religious drum. Seriously?

Now before anyone leaves thinking I'm all self righteous let me be the first to say that the church has probably done more to model silo building and intolerance than any body/institution/organization on the planet. It is hardly a new phenomenon. The Bible describes grown men, religious and political leaders, plugging their ears and throwing a tantrum like a child who didn't want to eat his peas or hear his mom ask him to any more. Actually their behaviour was far worse than a child.

I'm not naive. I don't expect this blog to change the world. What I can say is that reflecting on these realities has certainly shifted my own compass a little and I can only hope it will get one or two others to consider leaving their silos or at least peering out with open eyes and listening ears.

"There are none so blind as those who will not see."

John Heywood, 1546