The Other Seat (2020)
It is a convenient view of righteous morality for all opposing ideas to be locked into a
box labeled, “evil”
Clinging to those who agree or affirm my position
The bond of mutually agreed upon valor and vigor
is strong and addictive
What of our compulsion to view the other?
Of opposing views with disdain and horror calling them words that should be haunting
like traitors or savages
Once we prove they are
Evil enough
Or
Not enlightened enough
The gloves come off and our de-humanization of our foes and conquest to a moral high
tower is complete, shadow boxing and mumbling under our breath
“If only we had our way”…
Said one ‘other’ to their peers, simultaneously in two different rooms
Two different rooms,
Ironically, the temperature and the condition of the hearts of all 4 people was virtually
the same
A 3rd room- in the middle, full of discourse, innovation, or respect had been empty for
years
The dust quite disturbing
I believe the invitations went out, but no rsvps were returned
Our spokesman’s ways and methods, decades apart, become irrelevant as we beat our
drum
We crave leadership that is slow to use labels and sit in the other seat, or do we?
Those labels make quite the show and keep us safe in the high tower, dripping in sweat,
feeling like we've fought and won
If we view our language through a lens of history and atrocity our tomorrow’s tomorrow
becomes clearer friends
Unless we can learn to sit in the other seat
You can tell so much about a culture by the way its leaders handle opposing ideas
Like walking a tightrope while wearing a white shirt and carrying a glass of red wine…
“Don’t fall…Don’t get any on me!”
Perhaps both sides have a sickness and it is spreading?
Where does it end to call one’s foes less than enlightened and repulsive?
To call one meant to broaden my view the enemy.
The language is a symptom perhaps and not the sickness?
Who's the doctor for this condition and are we willing to sit in the other seat while he
calls in the 'script?
