Taking a Stand Even When You Stand Alone

“Better a false belief than no belief at all.” - George Eliot

As I’ve said numerous times before, I have a grandiose love affair with words.  So much so that I collect them - in the form of quotes, that is.  I write down anything I read or hear that makes my brain perk up - not only does it help me to remember what caused the perking in the first place, I know that’ll I’ll re-read it countless times.  This, of course, will prompt countless more perks.  That’s pretty much an amazing thing.

Quotes can also be very motivational and inspirational.  Also, amazing.

The quote above however, perplexes me.  With most of the quotes, I know where I stand. But with this one, I’m not sure if I stand behind it in unison or if I’m just biding my time, waiting to push it into a lake.

I do know what the speaker was up to, though:  He was using his words as a lasso for fence riders.  He just wanted them off the darned fence!  We can all appreciate that, I guess.  I’m just not ready to say that a false belief is better than no belief.  False beliefs have destroyed civilizations at worst, individuals, at best.

Now that I’ve over-analyzed the point to death, let’s head over to the fence…there’s quite a crowd waiting for us. 

You know the worst kind of fence-rider?  The one who changes their position every time the wind blows.  Listening to them just wears you out.  Granted, a person will change their opinions and even their views - I know I certainly have.  I can’t imagine viewing the world (or anything in it) the same all of your life.  The Bible is one of the few things that would be an exception, of course.  From Genesis to Revelations, the truths are the same today as they were when Joseph wore his colorful coat.  But when someone changes their opinions every other time they open their mouth indicates that they really haven’t thought things through.  Either that, or they’re too worried what others will think about them.  Never a comfortable chair to sit in.

It’s good, every now and again, to establish (in your own mind at least) where you stand on certain issues - or if you stand. In a chapter about daring to take sides in ”The Daring Female’s Guide to Ecstatic Living,” author Natasha Kogan gives the following guidelines:

Give your brain cells a workout and take some sides: Check out the issues below and think about where you stand on each.  Some might intrigue you, some might bore you to tears, but all shouldbe like a springboard that gets you thinking about ideas and issues you care about.

The author then went on to give 9 examples.  Below are a few to get your juices flowing.

• Politics.  Do you align with the Democratic, Republican, or Independent Party?  Was there a particular politician that won you over, a stance they took or did you simply pick up where your parents left off?  Do you consider yourself a liberal, a conservative or somewhere in between?
• Environment.  In the book, the author asked the following question, “Would you stop going to your favorite restaurant if you discovered that it didn’t recycle?”
• Family/Work.  What comes first, family or work. Would you take a day off (and sacrifice the pay) to take your sick child to the doctor yourself or would you have someone else take her for you?
• People.  Do you think that most people are good or bad?  Do you consider yourself a “People Person?”
• Death Penalty.  For it?  Against it?  What are your reasons?

It’s commendable to have your own opinions and beliefs, but it’s even more commendable, to allow others to have theirs.  And, of course, allowing them to have their own opinions means just that - not trying to impose your opinions on them.  AT ALL.  The only time we should try to pour our opinions into another person’s head is….oh, that’s right - never.

“The Daring Females Guide to Ecstatic Living”, by the way, is refreshingly provocative and provocatively refreshing book.  It’s very well written and interactive, both of which make it a lot of fun.  You can learn more about the book, the author, and what they’re both up to by visiting http://daringfemale.com/.