Yes, in nature and in human life, there are winners and losers. But …
The Sickness
There is a diseased mindset happening on a world scale. That which is causing havoc and unnecessary misery globally exercises this terror on the assumption that any who oppose need to be humiliated and destroyed. Those who dare to oppose or even criticize are tagged to be a a disgrace, to be imprisoned or even executed.
On the Issue
There are indeed always going to be winners and losers. You may be justified or even obligated to oppose your fellow town council or board member on some issue. There will at some point be a winner and loser on the issue. The ‘loser’ need not be personally devastated and destroyed with an epic fury the likes of which the world has never seen. The mindset that requires this may have erupted into pandemic level from a distorted worldview that has been metastasizing just under the surface (but not far under) in a culture of insecure, fear-riddled minds, hearts and relationships.
But Then Come the Playoffs
Anyone who plays or even watches a sport knows there are of course going to be winners and losers. And yes, in a more general sense that is the way of things. But there is an an important example from the world of professional sport that shows how that winning and losing can be handled—an example we would do well to observe and learn from. There be honour here.
What Is Wrong with Them?
It comes from playoff time in hockey. At the end of a series, there is a team with fans, and business office, that are all deliriously joyful, and there is a team with fans, and business office, devastated in defeat. So what do the losers do? Do they shamble away in utter disgrace to live the rest of their lives in doom, gloom and shame? No. They patiently line up at centre ice while their foes crazily whoop and holler and jump up and down in joy. What are the losers lining up for? To get in some futile last licks? No. It’s to shake hands, pat on the shoulder—so unlike anything normal and how the world works. And these humans actually seem to like and respect each other. What is wrong with them?
Nothing. The wrong is with the way the world works. The reality of winning and losing does not preclude mutual respect. Unless that is the way of things you take as inevitable.
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Musical Addendum: Vamp Until Ready
(Title is a direction in musical theatre—a “winner” the world can always use more of.)
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