Uncertain Righteousness

We all have a role to play in fixing the current climate of dangerous divisiveness.

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
There is a field. I'll meet you there.” ~Rumi

We seem to be in an era when wrong and right are difficult topics, but everyone seems convinced of the rightness of their choices. We could, in fact, call this a time of “wrongideas” and “rightideas.”

In the current field of strongly-held opinions and sometimes elusive facts, discerning the valuable plants from the weeds can be challenging. (And what are weeds, anyway, other than plants a certain person doesn't want in a certain location?) The propaganda manual has been well read and utilized by politicians, corporate marketers, and special interest groups alike who know that the creation of fear and division can be persuasive. Our inability to know what is really going on often leads us to choose one set of information over another.

It’s then a short step to convince ourselves that our particular beliefs and ideas are the righteously correct, factual ones and anything else is fair game for disdain, demeaning, derision, insults, name-calling, mockery, condescension, and general “othering.” This happens both online and in person. And, make no mistake, it occurs on both “sides” of most issues.

Among the many things that I’ve learned through my 50 or so years in the media is that, in spite of my habit of wanting to understand and explain everything, I can only really know that which I’ve personally experienced. We all come from different perspectives and, in spite of the profession of psychology, can’t totally understand why others act and believe as they do. So one of my personal guidelines is to remember that compassion, empathy, and kindness are key to the collective part of our journey through life, including the current uncertainty in the world.

I also know that’s becoming increasingly difficult. Most of us are feeling justifiable anger (and many other emotions) about the trauma currently in the world, no matter what “side” we’re on in any discussion about any important topic. I put the word “side” in quotes because I think that taking sides is part of the problem. The black or white, right or left thinking leaves no room for the nuances that can be part of critical thinking. For instance, people who have fought for decades against corporate pollution of our bodies and environment have suddenly demonstrated a massive hate for one of the people in the US government who might have a chance to fix some of the problem due to his long experience working in the environment and health fields. There might be some wisdom in questioning the foundations of our self-definitions as “progressive” or left/right – and in asking ourselves if those definitions are even relevant at this point.

Aside from not wanting to associate with bullying and all the rest of the nasty behaviours I see every day online and off, I don’t believe it will get us out of our current troubles, let alone create a better future. So, what to do? I say let's all take a deep breath; humbly put aside our self-righteousness; stop the rigid judgments, blaming, and othering; demonstrate tolerance of others’ ideas if not their beliefs; then try to find some common ground. Maybe once we meet in that field of Rumi’s, we can see the wisdom in collaboration and move toward fixing the mess.

Tapestry weaving by Wendy Priesnitz, Avonport, Nova Scotia, Canada, 2025