As I watch the political battle of the President and the GOP unfold as it relates to the nation’s deficit, I have to wonder what is really going through the mind of our country’s leading politicians. Granted, this is not the first time I’ve wondered about them, but as the country moves toward a troubling economic prospect and the two sides seem unable to get a place of agreement, I really have to wonder what is at the base of their actions. If the government (and the politicians that make up said government) are elected to act in the best interests of the citizens of the nation, why are they stalling on something that could further derail the economy of the country? Are their ideologies so strongly entrenched in their minds and political actions that reality cannot shift them to a place of compromise?
Then I thought about the fact that this is not a just an issue for politicians in Washington. While I was watching “What Not to Wear” the other day, I tweeted based on a concept that the fashion-challenged nominee expressed: “Letting your beliefs get in your own way…. Interesting concept. Do you do that?” On Facebook, I got a response, and the person said, “I totally do…” Apparently this is a human issue. While the lady on the show was talking about the fact that she studied social psychology and didn’t want to play into fashion stereotypes because of what her studies told her about it, she also limited herself in the way that she dressed and thought which impacted the rest of her life.
If our ideology can be strong that it keeps us from dressing our age because we’re afraid of trying to let our clothing define us, imagine what else our beliefs and ideologies can do. I’m not saying that belief is bad, because it’s a necessary part of human life and experience. Whether it’s belief in God, a religious ideology, our national identity, our racial/ethnic background, our sense of fashion, or anything else we hold dear, our beliefs speak to our life experience and how we see ourselves. It is often our beliefs that tell us how to decide and direct our lives, and it’s essential to have something to stand on, or we would always make decisions based on what others told us to do.
The problem enters in when our beliefs get in the way of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for other people. Part of the beauty of the American idea of the Founding Fathers was that of tolerance and freedom for all the citizens. They came from oppressive places and wanted to live in a place that allowed free choice for people. [Now, the institution of slavery makes that a very ironic statement, but such is the interesting reality of life and the power of beliefs that have been written and worded to suit certain purposes.] We should be able to freely practice our beliefs and lifestyles provided they don’t hinder anyone else’s ability to do so. And the government should take special care to make sure that it doesn’t make laws that do not hinder said liberties as well.
Unfortunately, people’s beliefs tend to become their driving force, and when these people have power, they impose their way of thinking on the rest of the world. Whether it’s politicians who make laws or pastors who preach their understanding of a text, personal beliefs and ideologies can become dangerous weapons when they are not based in genuine love and concern for the greater good (and the individual). And just as bad beliefs can be problematic for the public, personal beliefs can keep individuals bound in their own lives.
I challenge you to examine your own personal beliefs. Think about where they originated and why they hold weight in your life. Think about whether they are authentic to who you are and want to be. And check to see if they are keeping you from expressing genuine love for yourself and others. I refuse to tell you what to believe – that’s not my job – but I will tell you that any belief that keeps you from loving another person or yourself is probably a bad belief that needs to be reinterpreted or discarded all together.
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