Aug 1 2012: Hi JZ, I do think what you are stating in your opening discussion topic is also of great importance. I feel those of us living in civilised or first world societies assume that because they are often democratic and free, that we live in socities that are tolerant and understanding, by default. That we mentally accept and believe that all our fellow human kin are included, accepted and tolerated within these societies. I think that we somehow believe this to be true despite evidence revealing otherwise to our personal senses and experience. This may be because theses values are explained as fundamental prerequisites to our civilised or first world societies values'. Yet, I think that because this is the projected image that we have taken the image for actual reality. I think in actual reality, this only holds true if we behave in certain accepted/expected ways, perceive things from certain accepted/expected perspectives and/or appear in a certain accepted/expected ways. We seem to be behaving like we do in order to remain accepted/tolerated, but I suspect, like myself, who I am as known and perceived by myself, is often very different to my stage/everyday persona. I interact on an everyday level with only a very limited aspect of myself, usually the practical aspect of myself, the worker aspect of myself, but there is so much more to me. I am assuming that this is true of some or all others too. It is very interesting getting to find out and know myself more but not easy as the dominant part of me who interacts in daily life has also subconsciously learnt the flipside too. Those that do not work are unacceptable or unpalatable, those that fall into the margins of society are unacceptable, those of a minority set such as gays, drug users are unacceptable. They are not directly persecuted or abused ( although instances do occur, and can happen to any of us at times for manifold reasons ) but neither are they embraced, welcomed. Tbc....
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A comment on Conversation: The problem to ALL the world's conflicts problems, etc. is society.