By Mark Antony Rossi

Is it possible to have faith and doubt coexisting in the same space and time? To the legalists in our midst they call this confusing even immature. The literal-minded cannot handle complexity they expect straight lines as if Life is an Art class.

Life does not correspond to straight line philosophies that are built around forcing people to act in the same manner. Fascists. Socialists. Communists. These failed ideologies and some cultural systems evident in countries such as Japan and Singapore sought to enforce conformity through fiat.

The emotional genesis of any Utopian program is the wishful thinking of everyone agreeing on everything. Dissent threatens disorder. Dissent is anti-peaceful. Yet the tolerance of dissent is the first test of freedom. We must face the awful fact: the world is in disarray not because of freedom-hating governments but because of fickle-minded people unfocused on the bigger consequences of future society.

We now paddle in the partially muddied waters of gray area mentality. However frustrating a gray environment causes to decision makers is it a symptom of free-minded thinking. Without Liberty there is no difference, dissent, diversity or duality often required to help improve the human condition.

Yes, saying one thing and doing another is part of the problem. As is doing something for hidden motive. Or the misunderstanding of ethical or moral lessons. It is entirely possible that individually we may act in what we feel are ethical norms and still collectively aid organizations, political parties, corporations or governments in less than ethical pursuits.

Is Gray Area in our lives dangerous to society? Can you actively have faith and doubt at the same time? Is group think just easier than going against the grain?      The answer has always been clear. A majority on any issue is not an automatic moral stamp of approval. It needs review. It might need challenge. But the moment dissent and the dissenter is shoved out a window than everything needs to be questioned. Good decisions can withstand scrutiny. Good people don’t usually order your death. And the freedom contained in dissent is perhaps the only medicine left to save a once fragmented world from singularity.