Learning to Listen

I've finally reached that age in life where I've realized just how insignificant my opinions really are. Who cares what I think? Why should my thoughts mean anything to anyone except me? What value is opinion anyway? It certainly isn't a significant ingredient for discovering enlightenment. Usually whatever I might say only gets me into trouble, especially if there's a hint of controversy involved. These days I dare not speak about politics, religion, education, war, the environment, or even the drama of changing sexual attitudes in our society for fear of being dragged off to the stake and burnt as a heretic.

Not that my opinions are all that controversial. Believe me, they aren't. They just don't fit in anymore. For years I mistakenly thought my thinking fit nicely into to some sort of realistic, socially aware democratic urban pattern aimed at promoting personal freedom and the common good. But now I dare not open my mouth.

One word of disagreement about the merger of flounder cells and tomatoes in order to give them salt water instead of fresh gets me branded a reactionary to the march of science. Worse, any utterances condoning stem cell research and I'm labeled an eugenicist, or even worse, a nazi. Should I dare suggest applying conflict resolution to the Israeli Palestinian situation I'm branded as anti Semitic. Some of my relatives might even expect me to take up arms, quote Biblical passages from Jeremiah and start throwing stones thus encouraging the beginning of Armageddon. Comments affirming same sex marriages causes indigestion at dinner parties, and if I dare speak of the Patriots or the Red Sox as a genuine Super Bowl or World Series contender I'm labeled a fool.

So okay! I'll shut up. I won't say anything about front-page news anymore. Who cares! I'm not trying to get a job, impress a woman, or even run for public office. But it doesn't stop there. I'm equally in trouble wading into the mundane like suggesting a hostess might use more garlic in her stew, or a friend consider meditation as a means to eliminate stress from his life rather than take questionable and expensive anti depressants.

There seems but one solution to this dilemma: Jettison any opinion whatsoever, learn to listen more, and to say a lot less. Considering that there are no real right or wrong answers, why stick my neck out just for the sake of hearing myself talk? Remaining quiet and detached seems a more practical and enlightened way to go. I've found that a smile, a hug, and a nod of my head go a lot farther these days than long-winded opinions.