Conceptual Filters

Conceptual filters bother me. It bothers me when people view the world and the issues therein always from one ideological dogma. I am not saying that I am against having a common set of principles and beliefs, I definitely have them as a Baha'i. I just think that it is very important to understand things in a different way, with different assumptions, using a different balance of objective and subjective tools.

For example, it bothers me that their is a stark intellectual gulf between 'left' and 'right' thinking. I come from a background that would be considered very 'progressive', 'left', 'liberal', etc. Growing up, I always tackled information and ideas with a pre-established opinion, effectively filtering out any ideas that did not conform with that opinion. ideas coming from Michael Moore or Amy Goodmen types were considered almost scripture.

Then something happened and I started questioning some assumptions. I started looking deeper into ideas, gathering information from many different sources, and realizing that my whole view of the world was full of holes. I started reading between the lines and noticing that various ideological mediums that I held dear always left out certain facts in order to create a consistent narrative. It was kind of scary; I had always felt rather secure in the narrative of my beliefs.

I am a firm believer in the independent investigation of truth. It is a nice belief, because it means that I can question it, and hopefully not be a hypocrite. I don't just mean a lazy investigation of truth, but a vigorous one that temporarily sets aside any implicit biases and cultural perspectives that we have been raised with. One that draws us outside of ourselves, using many sources of information and perspective.

I am at the point now that I feel I don't need to maintain a consistent conceptual fabric of reality to be able to affect change. New information does not need to be put into a pre-set equation of understanding in my mind. I feel now that if I continue to expand and deepen my knowledge and spirit, any new situation and idea can be dealt with on its own terms, with perception based upon experience and reflection, but not ideology.

Reflections on Marriage

Sjona and I are coming up on our 1 year anniversary. As much as anything, it is a good time for us to reflect on how we have grown as a couple, and how we can still grow.

It is easy I think, in a marriage, to take the other person for granted, to become too comfortable with their acceptance and fall into the less inspired side of ourselves. It is too easy to be mean and hurtful with each other and not even realize it. It takes vigilance to always be thoughtful of the other person and continually regenerate loving feelings and gestures. No matter how much you think you know the other person and their capacity, it is important to always rediscover them and not limit them to what you think you know from the past; because both people are always growing.

Sjona continually surprises me. The more I know about her the harder she is too predict (in a good way). I am grateful that I have been given the chance to grow and develop with a beautiful soul in mutual love and respect.