As I grow older I am feel I am becoming more tolerant to different ideas and points of view. Where in the past my instinct would be to judge immediately, I do find myself often trying to understand a different point of view rather than condemn. This is a world view that is driven in part by my time in South Africa. We are a very liberal nation where the current culture seems to favour people being free to do what they please, so long as they are not harming anyone else. This plays out in liberal laws regarding sexuality, the use of marijuana, marital rights and freedom of speech as examples.
My latest observation, however, is that this freedom when taken to the extreme can be detrimental to individuals and society. As an example, I can choose to get intoxicated using alcohol or marijuana and this is my choice. However, if in my inebriated state I get robbed while walking home, is it the robber’s fault? Or is it my fault? Ultimately, I didn’t rob myself. The idiot who’s relieved me of my wallet did. Would I have had less chance of being robbed if I was sober. My gut says probably…yes.
As adults we are generally able to determine some levels of risk and are well aware of these risks before participating. However, when the negative event happens because of something else, should we be taking some responsibility for the risk we knowingly took. Using a corporate example, the laws in our country allow us to place tattoos anywhere on our bodies. If I decide to tattoo a design on my face it’s my right. However, if that limits my chances in the job market is that my fault or is it the fault of the bigot sitting across the table from me from the investment bank?
I’ve often sided with the victim in these scenarios. Urging the world to be less prejudicial and more open. However, I was chatting about this idea with someone close to me recently and they were able to sway my thinking quite dramatically. They said to me, that if I jump into a river full of crocodiles and I get eaten it’s not the crocodiles fault. My only responsibility is to make sure that I am not in a river with crocodiles. There are bad people out there, with bad ideas and bad opinions. Maybe the onus on us should be to avoid situations that expose us to them or their prejudice. It is a major gift to live in a free society. However, we must remember that we will ultimately have to deal with the consequences of how we choose to use that freedom. If we end up swimming against the tide, we must not blame the water.
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