Only Fools and Dead Remain Unchanged
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
31 October
2023
"There are two things in life that require
immense moral courage: Accepting one's ignorance and changing one's opinion and
acknowledging that in public. "
Jimmy Carter, 39th US President
The great
Roman orator Cicero remarked that "No fair-minded person would accuse
another of being unsteady for changing their opinion."
We often
fear that others will judge us as weak or vacillating if we change how we feel
about something. But being prepared to be genuinely flexible in our views is a
sign not of weakness but of strength. Flexibility in opinion/s comes with the
maturity of mind and magnanimity of heart. Only fools and dead people don't
change their views.
Change of
opinion happens when one is able to look at things dispassionately and
comprehensively. One also changes his opinions and views when new perspectives,
optics and viewpoints emerge.
The current
turmoil in West Asia is the best example of (collective) change of opinions. A
lot many people who held Muslims responsible for the continuous unrest in that
region, have now understood that Israel and America are equally responsible to
create a negative narrative about Muslims, esp. about the Palestinian Muslims.
Those who
listen to the voice of their conscience, have openly admitted that their
hostile attitude towards Muslims has changed. They've been able to see through
the nefarious designs of Israel and the western world.
Change can
happen at any moment. One must be open to accepting and amassing all sorts of
views for flexibility and malleability. You cannot entertain the same thoughts
and views throughout your life. There'll be no qualitative change if your
opinions and views remain unchanged. At the same time, you should be honest
enough to accept that you erred in the past and now you've rectified your
mistake/s and changed your opinion/s.
Change of
opinion also defangs a person and takes away his/her sting. Someone aptly said
that if forming an opinion is a (mildly) venomous process, changing will be to
devenomise it. There's no embarrassment to it.
Readers of
this portal will recall that I had a very hot and strong attitude towards Islam
when I began to write for this bold, popular and esteemed website. I still
criticise Islam and all faiths in the same breath as no faith is particularly
detestable to me, but my stand on Islam has become somewhat mellowed,
acceptable and bearable. A changed opinion is often accommodative and less
hateful. Less intense hatred paves the way for dislike. Dislike may get
softened into like, but (rabid) hatred remains obstinate and obdurate. I could
see the errors in my opinion as I was being foolishly judgemental. That changed
my stance and approach.
We're
constantly evolving. So are our thoughts. Change is the only constant and it
must be welcomed wholeheartedly wherever and whenever it happens.
-------
A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He
has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several
languages including Persian.
URL:
https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/fools-dead-unchanged-islam-muslim/d/131013
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