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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 1993)
M \Kk H \1 DUIIM,I Truth lies between right, wrong Id like to say something positive this week — in praise of ambi guity. We live in a world that has grown increasingly ambiguous. Old values, old understandings are crumbling — to be replaced not by new truths but by uncertainty. Everyone is affected by this shift from the meaningful to the ambigu ous as it takes place in all fields of human endeavor. The secure world of knowledge is crumbling about our ears, or so it seems. This is true in politics, in educa tion, in society and in science. I don’t claim to understand it all, but just listen to the code words of moaern science: uncertainty, relativ ity, chaos. But maybe there’s a clue here. The sciences’ chaos theory,; for example, represents an advance, not a decline, in our understanding of the universe. In other words, ambiguity and un certainty are helpful tools of under standing: At the very simplest level, it’s crucial to know what kinds of things aren’t knowable. In the more popularly accessible fields of politics and culture, the same thing is true. We know more now, knowing what things are uncertain. Maybe all this is sounding a little abstract. Let’s get (town to cases. Politically our world is quickly transforming into the “Global Vil lage” Marshall McLuhan failed to warn us about—though anyone from a small town would’ve known the big disadvantage of village life: You end up having to live with these people you disagree with, even the ones you hate. Village life fosters animosity and blood muds because everyone is forced together shoulder to shoulder. There’s no place to get away from your neighbor. A court verdict in Los Angeles ■rosters'racial tensions in Tietroit. War in Bosnia creates turmoil in No action, no opinion, no thought, almost, is private property in the I village, global or otherwise. Everyone knows everyone else’s business. the United States. No action, no opinion, no thought, almost, is private property in the vil lage, global or otherwise. Everyone knows everyone else’s business. Strongly held beliefs that are con trary or even mutually exclusive to someone else’s values are a source of infinite friction. Thus, the main tenet of political correctness: There are certain expres sions ofbelief that are unacceptable if we are all going to get along. To avoid the possibility of such expressions, politics is reduced to a matter of taste—like whether or not one likes licorice, Unfortunately that’s not a very possible scenario. Human beings have strong feelings. They like to express them. What’s more likely is that the peo ple with the most power will adjust the situation to their own advantage — either by physically wiping out their opponents or making it extreme ly difficult for them to express their opinions. This can be done in a number of ways and by any number of methods. Public opinion, manipulation of the media, the weight of position and wealth will all be brought to bear by all sides. In the end, as always, the effective ness of methods of combat will be demonstrated, not the validity of any argument. A third path — and, I think, the way out of this morass— is the path of ambiguity. " Tins ambiguous path is more diffi cult but ends more peacefully and may be closer to the truth. Becoming aware of the ambiguous nature of one’s political reasoning— its dogmatic roots in an assumptive base that can’t be proved, or even questioned very closely, — and all political beliefs are rooted in similar soil — can be frightening. I’d rather pick up a scimitar and lob off the head of my enemy than have him question my highly prized , and arbitrary assumptions. Keep in mind that we’re talking about assumptions like “the intrinsic I value of human life,” not idiotic no tions that only other people hold. But if I adopt ambiguity — if I embrace the knowledge that I make my political decisions based on intu ition, feeling, on instincts themselves ambiguous and indecipherable — I can still treasure those beliefs while allowing a little more leeway for those of others. Because 1 understand the nature of reality is ambiguous at heart — and always has been—I cease to be afraid of ambiguity. Until now we have reasoned in absolutes of right and wrong, true and false. And that was excellent while it lasted. Only that kind of thinking could have gotten us to the point where we can recognize the flaw at the center of it. We have advanced to the point that nothing is certain, and we can at last begin to truly understand. Dally Nebraikaa colon all t. That ptmy jar on your drtsstr FREE! Canvas lunch sack with purchase. While supplies Iasi. 0 With this, you can save for years. With these, you can save right now AppkFovrBocJ'- MSB HO, Buik m Ktyboanl h KT ILackki Stfxr MoHOCkPOHH Colo, CUm? 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