If Life Was Always Bold Colors And Broad Borders It Would Be Easy

But it isn't. Life is one shade of gray fading into a hundred other subtler shades. Possibilities spreading out, crossing over and merging at the intersections. 

Wisdom Literature And Experience

It's Complicated

I often wish that it wasn't complicated. That Enemies stood out from the crowd. That the right choice was always obvious. That there was an absolutely perfect set of rules to follow. But enemies rarely announce themselves, the right choice is usually hidden and there isn't a perfect set of rules.

Back in the day communities knew this dilemma. Many, perhaps all of the ancient cultures had a class of citizens that in today's world might be named 'Elders'. These rare individuals (of all genders) had lived long enough and well enough to develop a way of living that brought harmony into their lives. When asked they also knew how to share their hard won wisdom.

Sadly in the dominant cultures of today the Elders role no longer exists. The reason is simplicity itself:

Elders can only share when there is a common reality to work with. 

When there is no or very little cultural unity there can be no culturally applicable wisdom.

Truth in advertising time: Cultural unity does not always produce wisdom. The Germans under Hitler were unified but they had no wisdom. Italy under Mussolini, again unified but little wisdom. The First Nations in Canada, each one a unified people but without the wisdom to handle a changing world. The list goes on. It is an inclusive list not restricted by color, religion, gender, or sex. 

It is undeniably true that humanity has missed the wisdom train. If we had ever bought a ticket and boarded train we wouldn't be in the condition our condition is in! To borrow a turn of words.

Brian