Abnormal Weather - A Fable of Perspective
A general was drinking in the camp in a cold winter's night. Candles were lighted and coal was burning well in the stove. After a few bowlfuls of wine, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
"Extraordinary weather we're having this year!" said the general. "When it should be cold, it's warm."
His words were heard by his orderly, who was standing outside in the cold. Entering the tent, he knelt repectfully before the general and said, "The weather seems normal enough where your servant was standing, sir."
Notes of Xue Tao
What can we learn from this?
I hold a strong fascination for the Chinese Fable. They contain some of the most astute observations I have encountered. I am often amazed at the level of understanding that some of the Chinese thinkers possessed. They express grand, applicable ideas in terms that the most simple of humans can understand. Some of them seem like the most common of sense to us in today's world, but can you be so sure that these ideas
would be such common knowledge had they not been put into terms such as these in the ancient past?
The simple truths are often the most useful, and these are no exceptions. We can all learn about ourselves and the world around us by examining these fables. I claim no mastery over them (in fact, I am less than an amateur), and would welcome ideas and comments from the community here.
I have always loved this fable. I feel that all of what we see in the world, good or bad, is dictated by our perceptions/perspective. Generally, most of the worst things that happen in our lives could be seen as paltry by others in the world, and many of the best things to happen to some can seem to be of little consequence to others. Also, if an event does not affect us, we pass it off as inconsequential. I know it would be absurd to suggest ridding ourselves of all sense of self-centeredness, but is it absurd to suggest ridding ourselves of just a bit?
Americans*, in my (American) eyes, have a tendency to look at an event that affected them negatively and instantly deem it the worst calamity in the history of the world. This is only a guess, but if you were to poll the entirety of America, asking what the worst event to occur in the world in the last 50 years was, I believe an overwhelming amount would respond, "9-11." Not to downplay the deaths of thousands of people, but I would hardly consider it to be the "worst" event to occur in the last half century. How many people's deaths have been the fault of our beloved country (and thus, OUR fault)? The millions in Vietnam (all easily avoidable - Ho Chi Minh, a.k.a. O.S.S. Agent 19, wanted to be our ally, after all), the 100,000+ in Iraq (again easily avoidable)...these are pretty bad, and, I would venture, worse than 9-11. Just because they didn't happen to us (not directly, for the most part), doesn't downplay how "bad" they were. Are they "the worst?" I have no idea, nor am I in any position to say. To an expecant mother, a stillborn child may rate worse than all of these...it's all in the perspective.
We at Daily Kos also should keep this fable in mind. Lately, we have been celebrating Fitzmas Day. I share the feeling with all of you, but to those outside of our warm tent, Fitzmas Day doesn't mean much.
I was thankful for Marryscott OConnor's recent diary, OBSCENITY. Not thankful because I relish viewing pictures of anguish and suffering caused by ME (and YOU)**, but because I think we all SHOULD view them more often. To keep it fresh. We must be wounded by this! For we will not care if it does not affect us.
And what about the suffering on our own nation's streets? I doubt the impovershed, hungry, uneducated, or sick amongst us really share in our joy over the coming of Fitzmas. Does it benefit them? Yes, I would say so. It might even lead to helping alleviate their problems, but that doesn't mean they perceive it that way.
I might also add that the reaction of non-Americans I have spoken to has been, "What the hell took you guys so long?" They don't feel proud of us. They don't praise how keen we are. They have a different perspective. Is it right? I don't know. I don't think that any perspective is "right." It's just one perspective. One in a sea of billions.
Now, I think we could apply this fable to any number of situations and/or events in the world today (and I welcome you to do so!), but these few I discussed here were the ones I felt compelled to ponder. Obviously, the issue of perspective is a tricky one. There is no solid ground. We can't know where to stand. That, however, is why it is both an interesting and important topic of discussion. The things we cannot answer are the ones we try the hardest to.
*I'm not suggesting that only Americans do this (I'm sure all peoples do it), but I am most familiar with America, so that is the example I choose.
**I know you most likely did NOT support this war, nor did I, but it is done in our name, and we are stained by it.