Toleration - The Blind Men and the Elephant

With all that is going on both in the area of politics and religion, this poem came to mind. As it is said, “It is an oldie but a goodie.” I hope that you will take a little more time and read my commentary at the end.

THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT

John Godfrey Saxe's ( 1816-1887) version of the famous Indian legend,

It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind.

The First approach'd the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
"God bless me! but the Elephant
Is very like a wall!"

The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried, -"Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me 'tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!"

The Third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a snake!"

The Fourth reached out his eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
"What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain," quoth he,
"'Tis clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!"

The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: "E'en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!"

The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Then, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a rope!"

And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!

MORAL.
So oft in theologic wars,
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!

What is wrong with the Human Psyche? What is it that obsesses people to think that everyone else has to think and believe as they do? This poem talks about religion. What is it about religion that members believe that theirs is the only answer. I am going to over simplify here a little. Muslims believe that the only way is through Allah. Christians believe that the only way to Heaven is through Jesus. Jews believe that they are the Chosen People. Having these beliefs would not be so bad except people kill other people who do not believe as they do.
OK, so if you are Muslim, or Christian or Jewish you believe that you have the only answer. But wait a minute. Which denomination is the right one? Shiite Muslims hate and kill Sunni Muslims. Catholic Christians fight with Protestant Christians and vice versa. Orthodox Jews think that Conservative and Reform Jews are blasphemers. Then there are groups within the groups within the groups.

In our Democracy, apparently politics has joined religion in vilifying the opposition. If you do not see the world or important issues as I do, then you must be evil. The Republicans condemn the Democrats and the Democrats condemn the Republicans. What happen to the ideals of “Love your neighbor as yourself,” “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” “Turn the other cheek.” No we have to have gotcha politics. We have to call the opposition, stupid or evil. They don’t care about this victim or that one that we consider important. Why can’t we just say that we disagree with their message or their proposal? Why can’t we discuss in a civil manner and work for just solutions. I just do not understand.

Like religion, in politics there are groups within groups. Abortion seems to be the topic on both sides that brings out the strongest beliefs. In the Republican Party, if you are not Pro-Life, 1000 percent, you are not a REAL Republican, You are a RINO (Republican in Name Only.) I do not know about different types of Democrats but I remember some prominent Democrat not being allowed to speak at their national convention because that person was not Pro-Choice.

Maybe this blog is just self-justification. I do not know that I am 1000 percent for or against anything in our political or religious world. Take a look at my last blog entry on “Did You Ask a Good Question?” Consider this profound statement at the end of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks article. “Critical intelligence is the gift God gave humanity. To use it in the cause of human dignity and insight is one of the great ways of serving God. When faith suppresses questions, it dies. When it accepts superficial answers, it withers.”

Hopefully we can overcome the necessity to have others see things exactly as we do. Maybe we can find a means to be tolerant. I hope that we can work at understanding each others visions of the world whether it be in religion or politics or both. If we ask questions of one another and are tolerant of other opinions, I expect that we will make the world a better place. If not, we will continue to-
“Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of US has seen!”