DEFENSIVE MODE

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When was the last time you went into defensive mode?

If Somebody says something that challenges your values, heritage, religion or anything that means a lot to you, do you get defensive?

What was your reaction to that situation? Or Did you just take the easy way out and brush-off the whole thing? The shortcut to such situations is to ignore this experience and label whoever placed you into that position as ignorant, obnoxious,  arrogant or whatever makes you feel better, but is that the right way of handling similar dilemmas?  
 

Honestly and personally speaking, it is really uncomfortable and  “no fun” situation to be in; simply because you find yourself in this predicament and particularly you did not invite the topic; however, there are experiences in life that you would find it a unique opportunity to explore and challenge your reactions and what you are really made of. 

In such quandaries awkward situations you would not be able to realize your mental, personal and psychological capacities until you go through such experiences. In addition, it is also a rare occasion to REALLY find-out the authenticity and credibility of your values or whatever you cherish whether it has to do with your  moral, cultural or religious basis. Moreover, you would find-out, maybe the hard-way, your tolerance to such challenges which frankly speaking could, least to say, be a monumental task in many situations. 

Life taught me, a long time ago, NOT to place anyone in a “defensive mode” unless they asked for it regardless of their cultural or ethnic background. I am totally against inheriting values from guardian or local society; especially, if you are a matured and educated individual. It is absolutely inevitable to come across individuals of different faiths or cultures and become curious of what others have that you lack or even maybe do not need. The ancient culture of isolated islands is not valid anymore and became fictional stories of old generations or simply part of an old and dusty past. Our contemporary times invite and sometimes dictate cultural exchange whenever we interact with other people whether we like it or not. I find it absolutely critical to educate ourselves  of our own being and whatever we stand for before we can indulge with others in endless “debates” of whatever subjects we encounter.  In addition, we have to have room for the possibility that we could be wrong on certain areas. Why not, to me at least, it does not make sense that anyone can place his/her values above questions or not allowing his/her principles to get exposed to critical thinking. 

People with strong critical minds, are people of strong knowledge; however, they do not always win all of their battles. They most definitely lose some fights not because of a weakness they have but because the other side would not relinquish their ignorance.


Omar 

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

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