Perception

Perception is a funny thing.  You and I can be looking at the very same
thing and see it in completely different ways.  It's interesting isn't it?  It
is difficult for us to see another's perspective because we only have our
own!  As civilized humans, we agree that we must allow each and every
person to have their perception, but do we really "get" it?  Can we really
view the world from another's stand point?  My contention is that we
cannot.  Not truly. 

In US politics, you have two main parties (similar in Canada).  People
identify themselves as either a Republican or Democrat.  Many Republicans
think Democrats are missing the boat... that they just don't understand -
perhaps they are just not very intelligent; and certainly many Democrats
feel the same way about Republicans!  The same can be said for religion. 
Each and every religion believes that they are "right".  Some believe it is
their responsibility to bring the enlightenment that they have found, to
the world! 

In 9th grade Social Studies this was really brought to light for me.  I had
a brilliant teacher who had us create our own society as an ongoing project. 
Through the course of this project we became aware of our own views, and
of the opposing views of others.  I can clearly remember discussing this with
my teacher privately saying that I was shocked to discover that some of my
very good friends were so naive.  In spite of my best efforts to explain to them
why my views were THE correct ones, they continued to hold their own,
(and in my opinion) misguided beliefs of how our political structure should be. 

I laugh now when I think back to that conversation.  I am amused by my
own naivity at the time, however it is a lesson that many adults have yet to
learn, and that I myself frequently need to "refresh" myself on.  We know it
on the surface - people are entitled to their perceptions and beliefs, but we
also believe that those perceptions would change if only the person in question
"understood".  We may also take it personally if someone disagrees with us.
That is what I did in the 9th grade (and certainly in other instances since then). 
I believed that my friends who were not "getting it", were clearly just not very
bright and they should just follow my lead.  It was a very frustrating experience!

I think we can understand and empathize with others - meaning that we can
relate to them.  As humans we can all relate to other humans.  We can put
ourselves in the shoes of someone else and imagine how we would feel.  That i
s not the same as truly "getting" an opposing perception.  Interestingly, I consider
myself to be an open minded person whose political views slant to the left ;), yet
when my husband proof read this article for me, he was surprised at how "close
minded" my perception on perceptions are!  Go figure!