Sometimes I feel the foolishness of my history

I've reminiscing today. Replaying old conversations and interactions on subjects about which I had strong opinions. Mostly it was pointless. More than pointless, foolish. Arguing with someone or some group who were more entrenched in the rightness of their opinion than I was in mine.

I can't count how many times I engaged with someone who was saying some variant of "Why do girls always go for jerks?" Or arguing with someone over the some cultural issue when they had their god on their side. I've argued myself blue over feminism, gay rights, abortion, love, sex, and the nature of relationships. Always convinced that my point of view was the right one.

Oh, I'd dress it up in pretty clothes and spout philosophical, sociological, and psychological theory to back up my position. And sometimes I would say "I'm not trying to change his mind as much as I'm refuting his position to keep him from poisoning the minds of others.

All foolish.

Everything cultural is a point of view. Some ways of thinking create more violence than other ways. Some ways create more poverty than others. Some ways create servitude while others create partnership. Some create a future that looks promising and optimistic. Some create a bleak future.

And none of it is better or worse than any other. We think one way is better and another worse because it upsets our individual belief system. I like the paths that tend toward peace and partnership, but that does not make my way the right way.

There is no right way. There is no wrong way.

When I forget that, I feel foolish.