When I write ‘harmony’ I automatically think of a song. People harmonizing with voices and music but harmony doesn’t really bear any more of a relationship to music than anything else. Harmony can exist anywhere with anything. If we go to Merriam Webster the narrative leads this way. Music is the basis of harmony. I prefer the one over at American Heritage as it rings more harmonious to me. Some might argue that as music is the most obvious and prevalent example. I think we have to recognize that harmony pre-existed music or such a thing would not have been able to be introduced into music when it was invented. The fact that we can experience harmony elsewhere also testifies to the fact of it’s pre-existence. This I would call a truth and some would harmonize with that, others would squabble with me, others would argue ignorantly and still others would argue against my ignorance. Can harmony exist in all of this conflict?
Enjoyable paintings share harmony of colors. Pleasing architectures share harmony of structure. The most popular music shares harmony of rhythm and melody, certainly no voices needed. Mozart was not a pop star. Even if he were the likes of Janet Jackson, what people recognize and enjoy is the harmony of all of the parts assembled. The more harmonious the more people in general will ‘sing its praises’. Democratically speaking the Top 10 epitomize harmony because more people recognize it that way, as human beings we naturally agree on harmony even when we don’t know a thing about it. We all enjoy life more when we can experience harmony. We listen to music for this reason, harmony that is easily attainable along with a message that speaks to us. One could say that if a song speaks to us there is harmony between me and the song. This is my experience and as I observe the world around me I see it is the same for others. There are those who would squabble or argue with this perspective. I see it this way. There is no argument for this; this is an argument (3+4=7); unequivocally. An argument leads to a result that is tangible by all. No one in their right mind can argue against 3,4 and 7. Semantically one could squabble of tres, quatro and siete and that would simply be squabbling; this many plus this many always equals that many. A physical structure of harmony that can not be undone. To say it any other way is to delude ones self or purposely create conflict for the sake of self.
I believe that the best way forward for all peoples is to recognize that each of us at some base level is a ‘failed attempt’ at harmony. This ‘failed attempt ‘ ,for lack of a better expression, is where all conflict derives. Our inability to harmonize creates conflict. Sometimes because we are ignorant of certain things. Sometimes because we are afraid of certain things. Sometimes we are selfish for certain things. And so on.
Some learn earlier than others that harmonizing leads to a better way of life. Some learn earlier than others that conflict is a safe way or the only way to survive. For a person who has never experienced harmony paying off for themselves, they will resist any and all attempts at resolution believing there is no place where we win together. There is only “if I win, Great” or “if you win, I lose”. This is a most disadvantageous perspective. What they believe is the downfall of their existence, life is a battle all the way to the end. It doesn’t need to be this way.
Harmony as a rule. If I have three cups of flour and you have four cups of flour and we concern ourselves with self. I will make for myself say three slices of bread and you, the same, four slices of bread ALONE. But if we join our resources we shall become great friends sharing a loaf of bread discussing how harmony won the day and how full life is living it together. If we do this enough ties are bound that will overcome any conflict if we remain interested in harmony. In all conflicts there either exists; selfishness, ignorance or evil. Conflict in selfishness looks like this, I am interested in “is it better for me” than is it better for everyone involved, missing the mark of a high tide raises all ships. Everyone recognizes that together with a friend all things are better. Conflict arises in ignorance when one is not aware of a reason to go a better way. If we are dealing with a human being, then an argument will ensue with the ignorance being displaced and a harmonious conclusion ahead. If we are dealing with other than a human being it will devolve into a squabble where the person digs in and wars until you give in finding no value. I believe this is where evil enters the picture. Not all selfishness is evil, most of it is bad habit learned as a child. As children our worlds are so small and center around us, if our parents don’t teach us that there is more to life than just us, we go forward with this self focus. A man once told me, ” it is up to you as the adult in the room to identify the 12 year old and the 40 year old in any given room of people”. Evil is where one understands this and purposefully seeks out self interest knowingly causing harm to others.
Harmony can exist where people choose to make it exist. It doesn’t matter if you are Democrat, Republican, Independent, Green or Alphabet. Where all of these people groups fail is in self interest. If far left homosexual people and far right religious people would keep their shit to themselves and be “Americans” as George put it living free in harmony no one would be the wiser. What you do at home is your business not mine AND what I do at home is my business not yours. When you try to push your ignorant agenda upon me I will resist. If I push my ignorant agenda upon you, you will resist. Let’s just not do it. This is the main reason I oppose public education; the larger of any group gets the power to push an agenda as if they deserve it.
Choose harmony people. Stick to friendship with all and business. Business will not fail you, we all need the same things in life and if you boil business down to the ‘brass tacks’ you will find a harmonious life with others. If you buy my truck, I don’t care if you are….. It is good for me that you can buy my truck and it is good for you that you get a Korn truck. If I buy your widget I need it, I don’t care if you are ….. , terms are right and I need it. There is no more proof of this concept than all of those who shop at Amazon or Walmart understanding that these companies are taking over their lives and they shop there anyways.
Choose harmony, he a human being again today. Be local, shop local. Make a friend, harmonize together.
Peace
Greg