Question of the Day

[ayoub]

Why can't we be friends?

---

Y'know... All of us... All around the world... :D

Comments

[amante-donne.livejournal.com]

because of greed, and general intolerance.

[childeofloki.livejournal.com]

Because humans are a race of individualistic herd animals. You can quote me on that, by the way. But you have to quote it.
Anyways, we are. We are herd animals, pack animals, and individuals all at once. The same tactics one uses on dogs will work on people. That's why we have terms like "alpha male" applied to us. No two people are the same, no two have exactly the same perceptions, backgrounds, experience, etc... So any time you have more than one human, there will be some grounds for contention, even if it doesn't manifest itself right away. I imagine if you isolated a human for long enough, they would find contention within themselves.
We are animals, after all, and on a deeper level, we are all competing with each other, for resources, for breeding grounds, whatever.
Essentially, we can't all get along because we're bastards. No matter how much a group of people longs for peace, no matter how "good natured" they are, at some point, along comes a bastard. Now those peaceful, loving people are either forced to contend with the bastard, give into him, or be harmed by him.
And the bastards are necessary.
And frankly, those loving, peaceful people are bastards too, because more often then not they will declare their own way to be the "right way", causing conflict in someone who has another way.
Everyone is a bastard. Everyone is human.
Thus it is, thus it has been. Does it need to be, always? No. And perhaps it will change.
But I am not placing money on it, particularly not in my lifetime.
You don't have to like, I don't have to like it- and I don't.
But I accept it, and always keep it in mind when dealing with others.

Like Heinlein said, "Your enemy is never a villain in his own eyes. Keep this in mind; it may offer a way to make him your friend. If not, you can kill him without hate — and quickly."

[4kudzu.livejournal.com]

We can. Just everyone has to be a little less selfish.

[beatzz.livejournal.com]

There is no one reason why we cannot.

There are many circumstances though, I think, that prevent it.

Mostly, we're just too selfish or scared or cynical to believe sharing our lives with others can be good.

[kathyrene.livejournal.com]

I don't see why not.

[heardthatnoise.livejournal.com]

It seems to me that you asked a similar question not so long ago. :)

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

You'd think that humanity might eventually grow out of that...

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

We're all kinds of nuts...

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

:D

Indeed!

[jvmatucha.livejournal.com]

A quote I recently heard:

"If everyone fried their food, there would be no war."

- Bill Dauterive

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

But shouldn't we be able to work around all that?

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

That's why you're awesome :D

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

:D

I like to roll out the classics...

Especially when I can't think of anything else that day :D

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

Ok... That's a pretty cool quote :D

[these-3-remain.livejournal.com]

I wish we could. Unfortunately, all human beings - regardless of race or religion or any other differences - have a unfathomable capacity for greed and hatred. Many people recognize this capacity and actively work to overcome it, but too many people also indulge those negative tendencies.

[beatzz.livejournal.com]

I should hope that we can. And you know, I really do. Hope, that is.

[mighty-rontor.livejournal.com]

"For nobody would understand,

And you kill what you fear."

~from "Guide Vocal" by Genesis, from the album "Duke"

We can get along, but we are at a base level xenophobic. If it's different , kill it. It's instinctively a matter of self preservation. Once similarities are observed, they become familiar. Once familiar, we can become friends. We are at our root vicious, but it is the divine spark within us that allows us to make a leap of faith and trust anyone. It's even harder and more time consuming if we're talking super-organisms like nations or cultures.

I watched The Kingdom last night, and I was wondering the same thing. I hope that bloody conflict becomes a rare thing between Islam and the rest of the non-Islamic world, because I know that Muslims in general are a good and kind people with an enormous capacity for love. I hate Muslim terrorists only because they put the rest of Islam such a bad light.

[amante-donne.livejournal.com]

I like to think so, that it would end up as "seemingly" peaceful and tranquil as it does in Star Trek. However in reality I dont think it will change, Not sure if it will get worse but not change. too much hatred in the world, be it your local gang of kids through to the nead of nations to other nations.

Shame really as if everyone worked together we could banish poverty and a thousand other things, but I dont think greed and intolerance will ever disappear, especially greed.

[amante-donne.livejournal.com]

well put.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

Yeah...

We need to evolve beyond that...

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

I hope so too...

And yeah... I also hope for evolution to step in and remove xenophobia...

[cmerun12.livejournal.com]

I wasn't aware we weren't.

"There can be no friendship without confidence, and no confidence without integrity." ~ Rambler

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

We are... Some people aren't...

[cmerun12.livejournal.com]

See quote. I found that the day I returned to work after the Chickamauga event. It seems to say it all to me.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

A good quote indeed... And true...