One of the most dangerous things in life is denial: to be presented with facts, evidence, or a set of circumstances and choose to refute them or ignore them.
This is the enemy of progress and growth.
The parasite that feeds on reason.
The opposite of awareness.
The abdication of responsibility.
The accelerant of disaster.
It is a mindset that leads, perhaps slowly but most surely, to a collision course with a harsh, inevitable reality.
Or worse, it hosts a dark, silent void in which lost opportunities reside, never confronted, never examined, never explored.
While comfortable for the moment, or however long it lasts, it never ends well.
As much as we seek to avoid pain and discomfort, to hold on to the familiar, and trust in the past to guide us through the future, we must avoid denial, face what is in front of us, and steel ourselves to address it as honestly as we can.
No other choice will, in the long haul, save us.
- BGT
Thank you for bringing this up!
“It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.”
Mark Twain?
Great quote, OMGM. thanks! – BGT
Perhaps it’s not just about denial of facts, but values. Which is why Mortimer J. Adler suggested a fundamental change in education. Secondary school (liberal arts) would be equal for all students. If needed, some would be allowed to complete this in two extra years. Then, a four year break would be mandatory, including community service. Only after that, would specialisation be allowed.
https://bit.ly/3aakcIK
I like that concept. Thanks, JL. – BGT