What happens when we can no longer declare that it is the other's politics, religion, opinions, and daily whimsical notions of how things should be, that are more dangerous than our own fundamental opposition to them? Because truly, which is more dangerous? The point of view, or how its held, carried, decried, nurtured, and beheld? Can a fundamentalist ever be right? No matter the brand, style, fashion, or degree of that fundamentalism? What happens when our own favorite flavor of fundamentalism builds a wall with our hands, while purportedly tearing it down with our voices? Fundamentalism, regardless of how loud we yell, will blindly leave us still divided, on our own side, allowing neither them a way in or, most ironically, us a way out.
With so many bodies filling roles in the burgeoning competitive industries of Wall Construction and Wall Demolition, perhaps we notice the vacancies in the vocation of path-building. Of course, if a path is intended to go through a place where a wall currently stands, some contracting work will be needed, for at least some part of the wall will have to come down. What shifts when the primary focus is not the barrier, but the path that follows?
We cannot go around throwing up walls and lines and barriers everywhere we look, claiming that our worldview is The Correct or even "ordained" worldview, and pretend that those on the other side of the wall are there because they've chosen to be, and should celebrate, rather than despise us. When we are in the wall construction business, it should not bring surprise when some want to escape to the other side of the wall to be with "them." Nor, can we go around claiming that our worldview is loaded with wall-breaking dynamite, and pretend as though the collateral damage was caused by someone on the other side of the wall, or on the same side crying that the wall should remain, when the "explosives detected" came from our hands. How often do we exchange not ideas, but only our fundamentalisms that care neither for the progress or safety we claim to seek?
Fundamentalism is inherently dualistic, and therefore closes doors. The content of one's worldview is undeniably important. But the content can be subsumed by believing that a particular worldview is universally fundamental to reality. Is there space in your system of ideas, opinions, or beliefs for someone other than yourself and "your people" (whomever they are and why-ever you claim them)? What happens when the virtue of your politics, religion, opinions, and daily whimsical notions of how things should be, is whether or not there is room enough in them for someone other than yourself to breathe?
