Outside (The echo chamber)

I was watching Bill Moyer's Journal on Friday night. One of his guests was, Susan Jacoby. She was on to talk about her book, "The Age of American Unreason." She artfully brought up the "echo chamber." We see it often. There are people who are only willing to listen to their particular group of people. If anything is suggested from outside that group it is somehow thought of as "wrong, stupid or just plain irrelevant."

About a month ago I was talking to someone about "Joel Osteen," and that I liked his message and found his take on things refreshing. The person immediately shot back, "are you kidding me? He's a Christian. Christian's are nuts. They living in constant contradiction. Besides, your Buddhist so how can you remotely like what that guy is saying?"

My response was "not every Buddhist is true to the path and not every Christian is false to theirs. If I lose he capacity to hear ideas other than those that I'm use to, I'd feel somehow limited or not as well rounded." And when people don't properly use their heads only desiring people who are of similar likes and views, intolerance and incompetence is fostered. That is the price of living in the echo chamber. How regrettable.

To have the ability to move outside the echo chamber is critical. How we get there may be another story. It's sure to say, it will not *just* "happen." We are going to have to actively work on it, if for no other reason than it seems almost counter-intuitive, within our society. Despite this what sometimes seems impossible *is* possible. One thing that will lead us their is being *upright."

You can check out the conversation Bill Moyer's had with Susan Jacoby, CLICK HERE. It's an interesting conversation and may give you some things to consider.

Namaste'

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO