What We Ignore We Empower
Sometimes its very easy to ignore things to reduce our stress, but if we ignore something for too long it festers and can become an even more stressful event when we are forced to deal with it. Let's take a simple example like eating too much junk food. The problem is not the junk, the problem is wanting to eat too much of it. Often we blame the thing or others when it is in our power to make a change or fix the problem. Yet, if we ignore how bad junk food is for our bodies it can result in being moody, less energetic, diseased and even an early death from fatty liver or heart attack. This is a simplistic example but it can be related to personal goals, teaching, business, handling a situation and so forth. What are your thoughts about the philosophical angles that circle around "What We Ignore We Empower"?
Most people ignore stuff on a regular basis. Like the gentleman who harasses the girl in the next cubical and we remain silent. It allows it to go on and on until she stops coming into work and no one knows why. There is a lot of stuff that is empowered simply because others do not wish to get involved. More and more attitudes can be changed by one or more people speaking up to stop the behavior.
Yes, I agree with this. If you see something wrong you should try to change it. But be careful, know your environment, and know who you have with you. I'd almost always intervene anywhere if I saw someone saying something that infringes on someone else's rights. Like, when I was at my local 7/11 and some dummy was making fun of one of the workers because he didn't speak English well and his skin was very dark. I confronted, in a generally nice way, him and he backed off. I would not have done that if my youngest one was with me for fear of putting her in harm's way if he say pulled a knife or did something else stupid that would cause me to react. That said, I teach my kids to do what I did… just carefully.
Yes it is those who stand up for the beaten, bullied or harassed people. Trying to show others that there are nice people out here in this crazy world can do wonders. I have met some very nice people by treating them just like anyone else and not as someone inferior.
Yup, I'm fairly senior where I work. I often work late and the cleaning crew comes in. They are people, I'm a people too. When they get close I get up, bring them my waste basket, say hello, and engage them in conversation. I'm no better than they are and they are no better than me. If we all treated each other that way perhaps this would be a better world.
Yup, and I think the key here is teaching our children to be the same. I hold the door open for the person behind me. It's just the right thing to do. I can't count the number of times someone lets the door slam in my face. I think this is because many of us don't even register the people around us or that they have feelings. When someone lets a door slam in my face I smile at them and I say thank you. Often they turn in surprise and say I'm sorry, I didn't notice you. That is a problem. We don't notice each other. This is another practice we need to change by not ignoring. And we need to start teaching our children manners again.
Hence, we must never be afraid to speak up and once we say what needs to be said we need to act on it and get others to do something about it. Staying quiet is the SAME as endorsing whatever is happening around you.