Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. – Proverbs 16:18
Ok, let’s review. In my last entry I discussed facets of America’s war on terror and correlated it with how Washington big wigs justify the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts by creating the perception that we are battling evil and our very survival depends on us winning this “war”. I also discussed the lack of accountability and responsibility among our leadership and the affect this has had on the American Public's view of our elected leaders and American Policymaking.
Now I’ll try to bring the discussion a little closer to home by discussing the “Perception is Reality” concept from a different perspective.
Power vs. Pride
The word of God tells us that there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). The word of God also speaks to the issue of Pride. (See the scripture that precedes this entry). Every single solitary world empire, regime, republic, or superpower that has based their expansion by military force has experienced extreme opposition and ultimately hindered their nation’s internal growth in the process. The Greeks, the Romans, the Persians, the Ancient Egyptians, Islamic Extremists, the Former Soviet Union, and now more recently the United States of America have all experienced this. The aforementioned nations infrastructures and populace have suffered as a result of their pursuit of military conquests and the globalization of an ideal or principle.
As I mentioned in Part 1, there are those of us with the perception that any victory is a good victory. However, it is these groups of individuals that believe this concept that seem to be influencing policymaking. Then there are those of us that do not agree with this concept that are basically left to the whims of these individuals who either don’t see the folly of this mode of thinking or actually could care less one way or another.
What we need now more than ever is a paradigm shift in Washington, the halls of Justice and everywhere that a Chain of Command exists. What we need now are policymakers that put the best interest of the American public before their own. What is needed now are people in positions of authority that truly understand the meaning of accountability, integrity, and accepting ownership and responsibility for the results that their decisions and policies have on those in their charge.
It is time out for “do as I say and not as I do” leadership. I don’t subscribe to the old adage “Those that can’t do teach” simply because I believe that if you are going to be an effective instructor that you have to get a better understanding of the subject that you intend to teach. In my opinion, the only way you can do that is to actually be able to effectively do what is it that you intend to teach.
Here are some practical examples of exactly what I mean. How exactly can you teach me how to fire a weapon if you have never held one or pulled a trigger. How can you teach me how to drive if you have never gotten behind the wheel. How can you teach me how to Box if you have never stepped into a ring or even had a fistfight.
Or better yet……
How can you teach me how to love someone if you don’t love yourself. How can you instruct me on weathering life’s storms if you don’t have a testimony. Last but certainly not least how can you tell me how instruct me on how to raise a child if you are a individual of questionable character and moral standards (Bump that. What I’m saying is how can you tell me how to raise my child and you were a piss poor parent) and these are just a few examples of my point that the only way you can be an effective teacher is to actually be able to effectively do what is it that you intend to teach.
Nonetheless, this is where many of our appointed leaders and elected officials fall short. They preach accountability and integrity, yet we never see these attributes manifest themselves in their actions or their lives. To be completely candid… I do not accept instruction or criticism (no matter how constructive) from anyone of questionable character, leadership ability, and values without questioning their motives or intentions. That is unless you have a proven track record of sound decision-making and have exemplified unquestionable integrity.
Perception is truly not reality. You simply cannot base fact on something as opinionated as a person’s perspective. What if the perception of a something is flawed. What if your perception has been improperly influenced by circumstances and other’s opinion. How can you get a truly unbiased perspective on something if your facts are based on circumstantial evidence. Time and time again prideful people cause so much damage because they are not willing to admit that their initial perceptions were wrong.
Perception is reality. I hear this statement quite a bit as of late. There have been a countless number of repercussions reaped from choosing to follow this mindset. This why I believe the world we live in is in the shape that it is in. Somewhere, we lost sight of the legacy that the individuals that came before expected us to carry on.
Now don’t misunderstand or misconstrue what I am saying. I am all for helping those in need the world over (Stopping the spread of debilitating diseases as well as the industrialization throughout the continent Africa are nearest and dearest to my heart) but not at the expense of the American People. We have people dying of debilitating diseases, the plight of the homeless (some of them are the very people that have bled for this country) and a crumbling infrastructure (just ask the residents of the 9th ward in New Orleans, those in the Midwest affected by massive flooding, or those survivors of that horrific bridge collapse in Minneapolis) right here at home. Yes I am all for making the world a better place. That is our mandate as children of the Most High. However, I believe before you can make the world a better place ……. You have to clean up your crib first.
But I digress.
Yes there are those that believe that Perception is Reality. However, I am not one of those people. I base my reality in truth and what’s real and not on something as circumstantial as perception. Nonetheless, if that is your belief then who am I to argue with that. I just pray that if your perception is your reality that your vision is 20/20.
