From the first blip of the Big Bang the universe andeverything in it has been all about opposing forces. Be it gravity (on theMacro universe scale) versus electromagnetism (on the micro atomic scale),existence began with something versus something: One original force dividedinto two forces pushing against each other with the result being some form ofstability.
From Socrates to the rabbinical scholars of the OldTestament, from Buddha to Jesus, from Hegel to Marx, from Newton to Hawking allknew that what drove civilization and the universe was that everything wascomposed of opposing forces.
The term used by most to describe these opposing forces is "TheDialectic." In Hegel's case it was opposing ideas, in Marx's opposing materialisticforces.
The dialectical method of discourse is between two or morepeople holding different points of views about a subject. The purpose of thisdiscourse is to establish the fact of the matter through reasoned arguments.The goal is to resolve the disagreement through rational discussion andaccording to Socrates; ultimately find the truth.
Since this has been occurring from the beginning of time, itis no surprise that at this time opposing forces seem to be at the forefront ofalmost everything we see and read.
Be it the GOP versus the Democrats, Batman versus Superman, the Executive Branchversus Congress or the Android versus the iPhone, our differences define us andour times.
However, while our difference may define us and opposingforces may yield the truth, we too often forget all the things we have incommon.
The reason - it just is not as exciting.
But you do not have to be a sociologist or philosopher orphysicist to see this. Just talk to your neighbors, your family, your friendsor your co-workers. I guarantee you will all have some opposing ideas but outof 100 subjects I am also certain that you'll agree on 95 or more of them.
When I broached this topic with my son Eli, he said something thatI wrote down and have kept on my desk for the past few weeks: "Dad, everything is intrinsically connected, just in acomplex way."
So maybe it is not so much Us versus Them but rather we areall in this together, just in a complex way.
So Android or iPhone? Don't ask me I have a Windows 8.
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