These two words are the basis of many of our problems and the cause of MOST disagreements, arguments, dissatisfactions, judgements and, yes, wars.
Perception:
Perception is not only the passive receipt of these signals, but it’s also shaped by the recipient’s learning, memory, expectation, and attention.
This personal interpretation of the world in general is VERY complex and the link above is worth checking. We never really understand the perception which any other person has of any issue, concept, entity, statement, judgement or experience.
Let us take a very simple example; colour, is very specifically definable in terms of wavelengths. However there have been many studies of effects of colours on the brain. Regardless of the scientific classification of a colour each and every person perceives that colour in a different way. We will not always be in agreement about OUR perception of a colour. The most important observation here is that the names used by each person may be different but a) the colour (as graduated scientifically) remains consistent and THE SAME. b) the associations and emotions by each person could be (and probably will be) COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. Person A says that that material is blue and person B “sees” that material as GREEN. In addition there is a difference between how males and females see colours.
If this difference in perception is merely an observation then there would be no real purpose in the two people attempting to correct the other persons terminology. This becomes an issue of semantics and and has little significance on reality UNLESS one of the parties places some significance (or imagined importance) on the other persons NEED TO ACCEPT THEIR POINT OF VIEW. This is, in fact, the basis of most religious conflicts. The perceptions are different. And many bloody wars have been fought over these differences in PERCEPTION.
If, however, the difference in perception relates to personal preference or emotional conflict regarding an entity (for example the purchase of a piece of furniture for the home) then the issue becomes one than should be resolved and can become extremely adverserial.
Every person has a different perception of EVERY subject on the planet. The more significant the difference, the greater the resistance and emotion there will be to accepting change.
So how do we decide what is right or fact or good or bad.
I believe that a sit-down and a discussion based on TheCode can resolve even these thorny issues.
Then we have:
Polarization:
Which is simply the expression of differences in PERCEPTION with anger and total disregard for RESPECT.
There are a whole list of Pwords (as opposed to Fwords or four letter words eg. like GOLF) which serve as chaos catalysts and we really need to get down and establish reality and truth as it relates to these issues, apply TheCode and above all else
We (the whole of humanity) must take a deep breath, think with RESPECT in mind and give up using age old PERCEPTIONS (100 year old disagreements) as the basis for continued disagreements, wars, fights, battles and general chaos.
Michael Richards expresses an opinion about racism from a White Person’s point of view:
I have been wondering about why Whites are racists,
and no other race is……
Proud to be White
Michael Richards makes his point…
Michael Richards better known as Kramer
from TVsSeinfeld does make a good point.
This was his defense speech in court
after making racial comments in his comedy act.
He makes some very interesting points…
Someone finally said it.
How many are actually paying attention to this?
There are African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans,
Arab Americans, etc.
And then there are just Americans..
You pass me onthe street and sneer in my direction.
You call me ‘White boy,’ ‘Cracker,’ ‘Honkey,’ ‘Whitey,’ ‘Caveman’…
And that’s OK…
But when I call you, Nigger, Kike, Towel head, Sand-nigger,
Camel Jockey,Beaner, Gook, or Chink ..
You call me a racist.
You say that whites commit a lot of violence against you….
So why are the ghettos the most dangerous places to live?
You have the United Negro College Fund.
You have Martin Luther King Day.
You have Black History Month.
You have Cesar Chavez Day.
You have Yom Hashoah.
You have Ma’uled Al-Nabi.
You have the NAACP.
You have BET….
If we had WET
(White Entertainment Television),
we’d be racists.
If we had a White Pride Day,
you would call us racists.
If we had White History Month,
we’d be racists.
If we had any organization for only whites to ‘advance’
OUR lives,we’d be racists.
We have a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a Black Chamber of Commerce,
and then wejust have the plain Chamber of Commerce.
Wonder who pays for that??
A white woman could not be in the Miss Black American pageant,
but any color can be in the Miss America pageant.
If we had a college fund that only gave white students scholarships…
You know we’d be racists.
There are over 60 openly proclaimed Black Colleges in the US ..
Yet if there were ‘White colleges’,
that would be a racist college.
In the Million Man March,
you believed that you were marching for your race and rights.
If we marched for our race and rights,
you would call us racists.
You are proud to be black, brown, yellow and orange,
and you’re not afraid to announce it.
But when we announce our white pride,
you call us racists.
You rob us, car jack us, and shoot at us.
But,
when a white police officer shoots a black gang member
or beats up a black drug dealer running from the law
and posing a threat to society, you call him a racist.
I am proud……
But you callme a racist.
Why is it that only whites can be racists??
There is nothing improper about this e-mail..
Let’s see which of you are proud enough to send it on.
I sadly don’t think many will.
That’s why we have LOST most of OUR RIGHTS
in this country.
We won’t stand up for ourselves!
BE PROUD
TO BE WHITE!
It’s not a crimeYET….
But getting very close!
It is estimated that ONLY 5%
of those reaching this point in this
e-mail, will pass it on.
Jude