Tolerance and Creativity

I recently finished a class about world civilizations up to 1500 AD. The class focused on the creativity of societies and how every Golden Age is characterized by a peak in creativity. What I found so interesting is that those peaks are often also characterized by an increased level of tolerance.

http://arounddeglobe.com/parthenon-surviving-glory-ancient-greece/

Ancient Greece--specifically Athens. The pinnacle of philosophical prestige and political freedom. Why? Because they had trade with the outside world. They interacted with more than just those who thought as the Athenians. They tolerated ideas. This is illustrated in their form of government--democracy. Everyone (well, at least the male land-owners) had a say in the politics of their city.

The Empire of Alexander the Great. Alexander spread what is termed as "Hellenism". This is culture of the ancient greeks, where Alexander originated from. But hellenism was not a stagnant culture, it grew and changed depending on the area. For example, Alexander did not destroy the temples of the Egyptians simply because they were not greek. Instead he took what he liked from their religion and they in turn took from his.

The Roman Empire also used this tactic as they conquered people. Hellenism created a culture in which all people were united in language and basic values. And yet this was not a policy enforced by force. Look at Israel who retained its Jewish heritage as well as took in some Roman values. Jerusalem was destroyed not because of its religion but because of the open rebellion of its citizens. They were not forced to be Roman.

China. China also went through a time of great technological advances and creativity. This was enabled by the Silk road from Europe and a growing urban population. But it fell because one emperor decided that China was so far ahead of european and african technology that it no longer needed to trade with the outside world. And so over time, it fell behind.

I could go on further about the rise of Europe out of the Dark Ages, Ancient Egypt and even modern society. The point is that as a people, we must continue to value tolerance. The people in power must continue to value tolerance. Through tolerance, ultimate creativity is achieved. This entails working with those from other cultures and countries. This entails choosing not to be offended. This entails a stop to name calling of those who do not agree with you.

Great civilizations fall when they turn only inward and oppress others as well as its own people. Look at what happened to Russia in modern times. With all of the knowledge that we have, at times it seems that we have learned nothing. Are we no better than the ancients? Have we learned nothing from history? Is it really that hard to be kind?

Tolerance does not mean total agreement. It means respect and a willingness to work together to achieve greatness creatively.

Friendly Competition

Anyone who has ever been on a sports team knows the value of competition between teammates. It is not just about playing time, it is about being a better player and pushing your teammates to be better too. The chain itself may be defined by its weakest link, but the chain's potential is defined by the strongest one. A great player can make a good team great through competition. The good players will want to rise to the level of the great player. Not to outshine them necessarily, but to play alongside them.

Ever since kindergarten we have heard "choose good friends". One of the reasons having good friends is so important is because we are all a little competitive. The same concept that applies to sports teams, also applies to groups of friends. If you all go snowboarding on the weekends for fun and three people can do flips but you can't, you are more likely to work on doing flips. Not to be better than them, but to be like them. They are then making you a better snowboarder. If all of your friends have a high alcohol tolerance and like to go drinking, you are more likely to try drinking a lot too. They make you a better drinker. If your best friend is the nicest person at school, you are more likely to be nice to others. She is making you a nicer person.

Having good friends that push you to be your best is the way in which we improve. In this there is some degree of internal motivation as well--otherwise the best would never be the best. It is possible to be great without the influence of others, but we are inherently social beings. Having good friends makes striving for greatness so much easier. It is all about friendly competition.

Melynn-er-loo

This post is dedicated to my sister Melynn because it's her birthday!

If you need a job done, Melynn is the person to ask. When she sets her mind to something, she accomplishes it. I remember when I was in middle school I was almost embarrassed to go for a run. Not Melynn. If she wanted to do a workout video, she just did it. She didn't care what anybody else thought. If she thought she could join MUN (Model United Nations) with a bunch of kids who had more experience, she did. Not only is she unafraid to try new things, but she excels in everything she does.

Melynn is rare in the fact that she has ambition, is creative, works hard, and doesn't care how she is perceived as long as she knows what she is doing is right. She is admired for her confidence by all who come in contact with her. She inspires me to keep trying, to put myself out there, and to put forth the effort to succeed. Because that's what she does. While in Sweden she could not play softball and so had to find other extracurricular activities. One thing she tried was windsurfing! How cool is that? She just went for something completely new and did really well.

I admire my sister in a lot of ways. But with all that she has done and has the potential to do, the best thing about Melynn is her heart. She is loyal to her friends and family. She truly values her relationships. And though she loves meeting new people, she never leaves her old friends behind.

Melynn, you have no idea how much it meant to me when you told me how much you missed me since I left for college. You are a great little sister and I can't wait to see what you accomplish. Don't forget that your family loves you. Have a great birthday. I can't wait to see you next week!

Moral Crisis

Dante Alighieri

"The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis." --Dante Alighieri

I recently read Inferno by Dan Brown (great book) and the quote above was found all throughout it. Although I do not agree with it literally, I do think it carries a useful meaning. What happens when the masses stop caring? The innocent suffer at the hands of the powerful. This has been proven throughout history: slavery, the holocaust, the Mormon expulsion from Missouri. Most people living at these times probably thought they could just live their lives without a care for the ongoing crisis because it did not directly affect them--even if they knew it was wrong.

The result of people not taking a stance on an issue is apparent approval for the current action. Certainly we do not need to speak against every little thing we disagree with; that would be exhausting. But when there is an impending injustice--especially on a large scale--we need to take a side. This includes voting for government officials and taking part in the political process. Do you care about gun control? The right to bear arms is in the Constitution. If we tighten the grip on guns, will that give the government the power to tighten its hold on other rights? Such as assembly and speech? If we do tighten it, then will school shootings go down? What's your position? It's a big issue!

There seems a never ending line of people willing to complain. Taking a stand does not mean whining. It means forming an educated opinion, being respectful, and working for change. It is possible to present an opposing view without being irritating. The masses have the real power in the world, but if the people do not use it then others will. Use your power and take a stand. Engage in conversation. Vote. Stay up-to-date on current events. And please, take interest even if you are not directly involved.