|
Challenging "the truth".
"Dave",
You need not take it personally.
Since I don't know which Dave you are, to me, you are "Dave".
I imagine that everyone, here, knows which Bruce I am.
Roy Collins, Connih Ericksen, and Gary Miller's folks have seen me in the flesh, as well as, at least one David in the macrobiotic community, but I don't know which David or Dave I'm communicating with, here, so, until I do, you are "Dave" to me.
Also, "Dave", part of the way I percieve you communicating your beliefs, is as if they are "the truth" instead of just your beliefs, as if already, everyone who reads and is exposed to your beliefs, accepts that as "the truth", and since that is not true, in my case, I must challenge that.
Your initial reaction that I am hostile, to me is a good indication that you are now paying full attention to (and talking on the same level with) me, as I believe that it is not a good idea for anyone to both lecture (which I percieve as talking down to) me and communicate (which I percieve as talking on the same level) with me, and also, I'm not comfortable with being lectured, here.
One thing that I found out that I often did after leaving the macrobiotic community in Boston (in 1975) when I was trying to communicate macrobiotic ideas, was mimic the style of the teacher who lectured us, that is, lecture others as if I was speaking "the truth" instead of sharing that which I believed to be true, as that (in a matter of fact, I feel that has or had been the case of the main failing of sharing macrobiotic ideas in the greater community [communicating macrobiotics as "the truth" instead of one's personal perceptions and beliefs regarding {macrobiotics} it]).
So, "Dave" if you want me to be less challenging, then I suggest you fully share your beliefs as your beliefs and not as a combination of your perceptions and some dominant world or universal view that every one has and therefore must accept as "the truth".
Thank you, very much.
Bruce Paine
Re: "Hi Bruce,
Your post seems very hostile. You even put my name in quotes for some strange reason. However, I will respond to your letter in a civil and friendly way regardless...."
|