It is hard to imagine much of what we were taught has been wrong. Why? People have their own agendas. Maybe, they were taught wrong. Sometimes people lie. Maybe because it will protect someone.
We are led to believe “x” is correct. Hence, we respond with “y”. We are taught “y” is correct, because of “x”. We are taught to ignorance. Taught to think, believe, and not question beyond that. Taught to memorize “facts” that may or may not be true to pass a test. Told to not rock the boat. Told to conform and stick to the status quo.
We are taught what is right and what is wrong based on other’s point of view. Sometimes a collective point of view. No one tells us what we are being taught could be wrong. We are taught 1+1= 2. We do not teach 1+1 could be discovered to not equal 2. To think how 1+1 is not equal to 2.
The movie Patch Adams tells this well. A millionaire genius walks around the psych ward getting upset at everyone. When he holds up 4 fingers and asks people how many fingers he is holding up. People say 4. He gets mad. Repeat. It is only when he tells Patch to look past the 4 fingers that Patch sees 8. The guy then responds 8 is a good answer. Not the right answer. Not the only answer. Not THE answer. An answer.
We like our inspirational posters, quotes and saying. We like putting stuff into the universe and telling people to think different. We talk of the few that made it through. We do not really want those that think different to break through. That is why only a few make it into the zeitgeist. Too many outside the norm breaks the status quo.
Those people are a mix of luck, perseverance, talent, and happenstance. They break through. Yet just barely. Then we say, “see, look at them! they did it”. Then the gate closes behind them and the next person needs to figure out a new way through. And rarely does that happen.
That is why we do not teach 1+1 may not equal 2. Why we fail to teach critical thinking. Fail to teach it is okay to be wrong. Fail to teach that failing will and should happen. It should not be a choice between right and wrong. It should be a conversation of why we think something is right or wrong. Two opposing thoughts at the same time. The answer can be both 4 and 8. If you choose to see past what is in front of you. We should not be angry because what we were taught was wrong. We are broken, lost, and angry because no one told us it was possible what we were being taught could be wrong. That the person who gets 4 right, gets a better grade. The person that sees 8 may change the world.
Posted. Not Perfect.
A Vegan Father, navigating a non-vegan world.
A Better Father 