Do you Know What you are doing?

I find time and again that people will say that they think one way, but they will behave in a completely opposite manner. They will say that they do not want to impose their views onto someone else, when by the very act of, "not getting involved," their self-removal from the hard decisions of life will have effectively slaughtered millions of innocent lives and destroyed countless otherwise strong families.


It happens time and time again, and demonstrably I am sure, more often than even I am aware (and I try to stay pretty aware!)


I am what you might call a "self-proclaimed debater." I mean that I do not shy away from the topics commonly avoided at your dinner table. If you invited me to dinner, or I you, I will not only eagerly engage in conversations about politics, abortion and religion, but I will do everything in my power to mold the conversation to that direction. I do this, not because I have some morbid proclivity towards dissention, conflict or the destruction of otherwise happy relationships, but rather, I have a passionate regard for truth. I care more for exposing the truth than if you like me or not; I would prefer that you like me, but not at Truth's expense. I do not mean to suggest that this is "my truth" either. The truth does not have the luxury of relativism, it either is, or it is not. Two plus two will always equal four; this is truth.


Some would say that I might gain more ground if I were not so aggressive in my pursuit of that very elusive lady; they may have a point. Most people simply accept what they hear the most or for the longest time, rather than face the hard decisions that may come from the acknowledgement of a truth newly discovered. It takes more time than most are willing to spend and their current position on a "touchy subject," while unbeknownst to them is false, is comfortable. It also makes them feel like a nice person.


I am not generally opposed to ones desire to be nice, or for their search for peace (inner or outer), but Justice has always ridden on a horse named War. This could be a war of words at the dinner table, a litigious battle before a judge or one like WWII or the current one on Terror. I personally prefer the first option. More lives have been saved by the pursuit of truth than the comfortable pleasure of a lie. It is critical for our survival as a "somewhat civilized" society that we not shy away from the pursuit of truth no matter how uneasy it makes us feel, who may not like us, or if our poll numbers should drop as a consequence.


The true definition of peace, after all, is not the absence of conflict, but the result of a defeated enemy, be that enemy an idea or a person.