flooding, quake, belief

come dive in puddles with me...and today we could...literally.

so...after flooding and earthquake, however minor, here I am...and I am tired! Busy busy day...but I was at work listening to John Mayer...I find I have to listen to somewhat relaxing music at work as it keeps me a little less stressed while I'm there (cuz my job tends to get me worked up at times). Anyway...I was just listening to his music and started thinking a little about his song 'belief'

here are the lyrics...

"Belief"

Is there anyone who
Ever remembers changing their mind from
The paint on a sign?
Is there anyone who really recalls
Ever breaking rank at all
For something someone yelled real loud one time

Everyone believes
In how they think it ought to be
Everyone believes
And they're not going easily

Belief is a beautiful armor
But makes for the heaviest sword
Like punching under water
You never can hit who you're trying for

Some need the exhibition
And some have to know they tried
It's the chemical weapon
For the war that's raging on inside

Everyone believes
From emptiness to everything
Everyone believes
And no ones going quietly

We're never gonna win the world
We're never gonna stop the war
We're never gonna beat this
If belief is what we're fighting for

What puts a hundred thousand children in the sand
Belief can
Belief can
What puts the folded flag inside his mother's hand
Belief can
Belief can



here's what I think...

the first verse has some truth to it as usually if your mind is set, then your mind is set. This is unfortunate because an open mind seems better than a closed one. but, case in point, sometimes at PSU there are the people with the signs condemning everyone to hell unless they repent. Now, I am not an avid church-goer, but I do believe in God. I don't think I'm going to hell because a sign says I will, and I don't think that those who choose not to believe in "our God" (whomever 'our' may indicate) are necessarily going to hell either. So there you have it, one sign did not change my beliefs. and that sam sign did not make me stop and consider their argument either. The second part of that verse just makes me think that people generally don't like to be singled out. We go with the flow, follow the crowd. Unless the topic is something we are passionate about, people generally don't stray outside their comfort zone.

The refrain part is true...we all have ideas of the way things ought to be run and if something completely adverse to our idea of things happen, then we don't sit back and watch it happen. Of course, this isn't always true...because when things aren't going my way I have been known to merely grumble about it.

The second verse is very visual. belief's an armor...that works. we use it to defend ourselves to others and to ourselves. we use it to defend other's actions. the problem is that we fight with it...people don't like to accept they are wrong...actually more acurately : people don't like to admit that there isn't necessarily a 'right' and a 'wrong' and sometimes beliefs can hurt people and things you don't expect them to.

The third verse is basically saying that we'll sometimes use our beliefs to prove things to ourselves, not just others. People want to prove their 'right' and that's when trouble can happen.

the chorus has truth...beliefs are just that...beliefs. Everyone believes something different, so no one can 'win'. The whole world will never agree on the same thing....we are too diverse and that's not always a bad thing.

The last part is just sad. how many wars have been fought over different beliefs? isn't it safe to say that all of them have? and it has led to deaths...many many deaths.

I'm not saying that people are wrong to have strong beliefs. And I don't think this song is saying that either. What I think it's saying is that we need to be open to other people's beliefs...we don't have to accept them, and they don't have to accept ours, but people should be open. Look into all the arguments and all the sides. Then make your stance. War is a terrible thing. Our country is at war and I thank all those brave men out there defending us all. I just wish there was a different way...isn't there a different way? why do so many people have to die?