So in rock, paper, scissors, scissors cuts paper (yes it does), rock crushes scissors (would this really work?), and paper covers rock (logic fail). Leaving aside the utter ridiculousness of the childhood game, I’d like to apply it to what I was talking about last week with my brief encounter with the white supremacist on the subway. (If you didn’t read last week’s note, click back to “On The A Train.” But most of you read it, I figure.)

I was talking to a twit I knew in South Korea last fall who didn’t believe in jails or punishment at all. To her, love is the only way to correct bad behavior. Since I’ve already called her a twit, you should not be surprised that I consider this stupid.

However, I don’t doubt that forgiveness and compassion are very useful tools. If we didn’t make use of them when trying to correct societal ills, we would invariably fall short. Indeed, I think, with something like non-violent drug crimes, lumping such folks in with people guilty of domestic abuse does them a disservice in the long run.

But if I find myself standing in front of that, as J. Slavin put it, “wannabe member of the SS” and I wasn’t in my city, in an area full of black folks (and other minorities), but was instead in wherever he’d feel more comfortable, and there were hoods and burning crosses involved (not that neo-Nazis and the KKK are 100% the same), well, I could love him all I want, but it probably wouldn’t save my ass from a vicious beating.

In such a situation, it’s just as ridiculous as the rules of the game. Paper really wouldn’t stop the rocks from hurting me. (I have no idea where scissors come in.)

On the flipside, though, if I start beating on this guy because I feel fortified by being in Harlem (and by his being scrawny and my being brawny; it rhymes!), I’m not really helping either. I’ve punished this guy for what I take to be his hateful worldview, but what will it solve? I bet he would go home and start preparing even harder for his racial holy war.

When faced with proud, angry ignorance, we can’t let go of compassion altogether, because then we’re just pouring gasoline on a fire that’s already lit.

But we need more than paper. Because that’s just going to burn up too. (I am mixing these metaphors. But I do that every week, don’t I?)

So how do we stop the rocks? How do we, as MJ says, turn those swords into plowshares?

I think the answer is as simple, and complex, as education.

Not all of you are actually professional educators. But, as adults, it is still our responsibility to spread the knowledge we’ve gained. Whether it’s just posting links on here, starting conversations on long plane rides, breaking bread with someone you don’t know very well, this is all education, and it’s all vital. Indeed, doing so with someone you suspect you may disagree with is often more valuable than merely living in an echo chamber. We should seek out heterogeneity, mix it up outside of our comfort zones, learn as much as we can and then pass it along to everyone around us.

Yeah, it’s simplistic. But think about how much ignorance is based on homogenous groups relishing their very sameness and fearing the different, and even something this straightforward could prove effective.

So all of us, maybe take our headphones out a little more often, move away from that tunnel vision we’re all naturally inclined to fall into when we go about our daily lives, talk to that person next to us, enter into and encourage an exchange. Though I can’t force myself to listen to the three babies crying behind me on New Jersey Transit as I write this, I’m going to take my own advice and strike up a chat with the guy across the aisle from me (as soon as the crying stops). Maybe he’s full of knowledge I could use in my own life. Or maybe he could benefit from something I have to say.

I really don’t know. And we never do until we roll the dice and give it a shot.

These little things won’t defeat ignorance once and for all. I don’t expect that will ever happen. But if paper can’t really stop rocks, maybe education can be another rock, strong enough to push back against everything that comes flying at us every day.

Just the way I see it. I cede the floor to you.

Feel free to let me know where the hell scissors comes in.

Peace and love,
Justin PBG