In several of his Western novels, this author characterizes his hero as someone that is fond of others, but does not expect much from them, realizing that they are weak, greedy, selfish, craven, crooked, massed men and women.
This realistic but accepting approach of tolerating the backsliding, shortcomings and misbehaviors of people around one is a most vital outlook to take on.
We must always recognize and accept others where they are coming from, not where we as idealists demand that think they should be.
We must never forget to respect their individuality, their freedom, their power and their free will to live as they see fit, even sinning and making very poor choices.
The most wicked person (the most lethal person) is the embittered, power-hungry idealist that hates others, and holds a massive grudge against them for not following him, worshiping him, and falling into line with his demands and exhortations. This is the classical pseudointellectual that Hoffer so feared and warned us against.
Once they are in power in a totalitarian regime, their war against the people is a frightening thing to behold.
Much better, not to expect too much too soon from fallible humanity, while still respecting them, while remaining fond of them, while hoping and praying that one day they will wake up, see their duty and head in the right direction. This reaction to their rebellion and defiance against our program is the ethical action that God expects of De's idealists and reformers.
Nothing sickens the soul of the frustrated reformer like desiring control of others; horrible damage was done in the 20th century in the hands of such snarling intellectuals determined to bend mass humanity to their wills.
No comments:
Post a Comment