Our Point of View varies greatly. We must recognize that our Beliefs are all Based on our own Point of View. Our world has become very complex with ninety plus television stations, uncountable radio stations, and print news media in the thousands. Determining what to believe, if we even think about it, has become near impossible with so many different points of view being presented. To find the truth, do we examine all that is presented to us? Or do we accept what is presented as truth when it comfortably fits into our point of view?
That first paragraph in itself is a point of view – mine.
As a retired person with lots of idle time, I have the time to listen to several points of view on the television. I also have the time to research topics on my computer or phone to try to determine the truth. But I have to recognize that even with that, everything is from someone’s point of view. The actual truth or facts are difficult to determine.
First-Hand Witness
Unless we actually witness something that happens, we must rely upon the reporting of others. This has always been true. Even back to the time of the Bible, we are reading of events from someone else’s point of view. Regardless of how neutral or factual a reporter tries to be, the facts are presented by the reporter’s point of view. Therefore, determining the truth of matters is almost impossible. But we can attempt to moderate our own personal point of view.
Our point of view is based on our life. How we live, where we have been – our homes, our education, the locality, the people nearest to us. Trying to understand things as others see them is the first step. The keyword here is “trying“, because can we ever really feel someone else’s despair? Can we ever really understand another’s point of view?
Empathy required for Point of View
There is a personal trait called empathy. Webster defines empathy as “the action or capacity of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another.” It is a trait that we have to want to embrace. If our whole world is based only on ourselves, then feeling or having empathy is impossible. And without empathy, it becomes impossible to moderate our point of view.
However, without empathy, peace is impossible. We have to live and co-exist with others. Everything is not going to be one hundred percent for any of us. We must always strive for as much equality as possible, but each of us is a totally unique person. But, each of us do have the ability to learn.
My Shortcoming
Now in my later years, I have a hearing problem. It is difficult for me to hear, and thereby understand every word that is spoken. I try to compensate by relying more on written communication as opposed to telephone communication. But in the world that I have been trying to participate in, verbal communication is a requirement. People have the point of view that everyone can answer the telephone and communicate equally. If one cannot understand what the other person is saying, how can we begin to communicate?
Back to my original POV
I did not set out here to talk about myself, but more about the world in general. Right now we are seeing large gatherings and demonstrations of people trying to express their Point of View concerning social inequality. One of the slogans for this type of demonstration was Black Lives Matter. Well, of course, they do. However, these demonstrations took a violent turn with the destruction of property. It started with the removal or attempted removal, of statues. Now it has expanded to the destruction of Government Property.
When there is violence, the violators lose the empathy of those willing to listen to another point of view.
So I am hoping that when folks want to raise attention to important matters, they do it peacefully. We here locally had a drastic loss of a high school boy’s life. On several different nights, there were peaceful marches of people mourning this loss of life and to keep the focus of local police on finding the perpetrators. It took time, but there are now suspects facing trial.
Peace works. Violence does not!!
And that’s my POV.