There are countless ideologies, theologies, philosophies, confessions, creeds, constitutions, and doctrines available to anyone seeking immaterial truth. Libraries across the globe are filled to overflowing with tomes containing endless rhetoric intended to articulate invisible reality. Some are more successful to this end than others, while the ideas written for the benefit of all human kind share a common truth that is unchanging. This intrinsic reality is summed up rather nicely by Pink Floyd in 1973's Dark Side of the Moon album. Specifically track 7 entitled Us and Them.
Anyone familiar with Pink Floyd understands that any words of mine intended to expand upon the beauty of this album would be outrageously presumptuous, if not just plain vapid. That's why I'm not going to write much. What most do not understand is that track seven holds the solution to the worlds problems. "Us and them, and after all, we're all just ordinary men" and "with, without. And in the end it's what the fighting's all about" are lyrics that would usher in world peace if only we would shut up and listen. Anyone not familiar with Pink Floyd should, even more so, shut up and listen. I say this with the utmost affection.
The "us and them" mentality is precisely what keeps us divided and squabbling. The more we squabble, the less we realize that our angry words only appeal those who have already come to the same conclusions we have. In other words, it has proven to be a waste of time that only results in more violence.
We must all cease thinking, speaking, and acting according to these terms. This duty is equally shared by all people everywhere, with a special emphasis on those among us who have been treated the most poorly. If we fail to accomplish this task, we will continue bombing one another until there's no one left to explain why we did it in the first place.
To end on a high note: Pink Floyd!
I really enjoyed your post! I love music, and I'm big on philosophy and analyzing the words in a song, so I could totally identify with what you wrote here. I love going to music festivals for many reasons, but one of them is that for the most part the "us and them" mentality doesn't exist. Everyone is always just looking out for everyone else and trying to help each other out whenever we can.
Right on, man! Woodstock 1969 was declared a disaster area, yet there was not one reported act of violence. What's so tough? The idea is simple: don't hurt people or do things that will cause people to get hurt. You would think that after the first battle thousands of years ago, the leaders of the tribes would have said "fuscrew this" and figured out a better way!
Your're just right :) I've been to so many different festivals (rock, metal, EDM, rap,..) and in 7 years of concerts and festivals there only was one time I met unkind guys. Too bad it's not like that all the time...