We all could use a lot more of that. I’ve never met anyone, who was too humble, but too many people not humble enough. I may include myself among them.
I may have a tendency to underestimate myself sometimes, but not out of humility. Call it a shrewd case of insecurity, even though I’m not much of an insecure person. I really am quite confident in myself and I also tend to be arrogant when it comes to matters of intelligence. I think it’s the only situation where you will find me arrogant.
I can’t abide stupidity, mainly because I don’t think stupidity is a condition that we are born with and cannot shed. It goes hand in hand with ignorance and I have no patience for it. This may be a harsh thing to say, but it’s also the honest truth.
Ignorance is an excuse, that’s all it is. And not even a very good one.
Wikipedia says: “Humility … is the quality of being modest and respectful.”
That I am: modest (in most things) and respectful (towards most people, if not everyone all the time). But I am neither as modest nor respectful as I could possibly be. Especially the latter is severely lacking in some regards, mainly when we’re going into the realm of the abstract, the idea.
However, there are certainly a few people, for whom I have no respect whatsoever and they earned that sentiment, because they’ve said or done something incredibly stupid; often also politicians, who have not the slightest idea what they’re talking about. That kind of stupidity is infuriating, which makes it worse.
Alas, it seems to happen every day and the news are full of these things. Now people like that certainly need some humility. Because they have no respect for anyone or anything and sadly believe that it’s a good idea to make their thinking public.
American politicians, like Todd Akin, seem especially prone for such missteps and I’m glad that there has been a huge uproar about his recent comments. So much so, that is own party is distancing itself from him.
The thing is, I know I could use a reminder every now and then to exercise humility, but people like him don’t seem to realize the same need and nobody tells them either.
People I like and I respect help to keep me in check. I will take a step back and re-evaluate my own thinking, if someone inspires me to do so and there is a valid reason to do so. If I’m being a jerk and I’m unaware of it, I would like to be told. I do strive to become a better version of myself, even though for the most part I really do like myself. However, I, too, am flawed and that is okay.
Of course, if you’re going to tell me that I’m harsh for having no patience with stupid people, so be it. I will accept that I am arrogant in this case, but I will not change my mind on it. There are and will be plenty of other things, though, that I am willing to re-evaluate my opinions on.
Because I respect yours, even if I may not like it.
2clouds 