Do you prefer black and white issues or find meaning in the grey?First of all, in Canada there is a conundrum about the spelling of grey/gray. Our kind neighbours to the south use gray and our British ancestors grey. Also as I scan all the blogs out there, I think twice about using 'colour' and 'humour' when so many spell it without the 'u.'
Let me suggest that 'gray' is a color (American) and 'grey' is a colour (Canadian, British...) More confused? Oh well, another grey/gray area, another wrinkle of reasoning.
A poem entitled 'Grey areas' from the enjoyable site Fridge Soup provides an excellent reflection on our thought processes and perspectives. Do we like to look at issues as black and white with a definite right and wrong answer? Or are we reluctant to take a stand because there is a lot of complexity, a lot of grey area?
Consider the many controversial issues that can get people very excited. Some are 'for' and some are 'against' and it's often difficult to provide a resolution to the conflict or to find a middle ground. Indeed, as a former English teacher, I enjoyed assigning student debates where they had to apply their reasoning skills on an issue.
- The drinking age should be raised to 21. (in Canada it's 18)
- Computers should be substituted for books.
- The media distorts teen values.
- The environment faces hopeless degradation.
- Teens face negative stereotyping...
In the adult world the issues are even more diverse. Our opinions are coloured by our biases and presuppositions, and perhaps even by propaganda.
In actuality, however, most issues should be faced with humility. Do we understand all the diverse details and perspectives, all the little wrinkles? Is it yes, no, or might?
Shades of grey wherever I go;
The more I find out the less
Black and white is how it should be,
But shades of grey are the colours I see. ~ Billy Joel
This is also a Theme Thursday post on wrinkles.
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