The People Journal

Cognitive Dissonance sounds lovely

Posted by: Jim Mondry

Friday, September 25th, 2009 at 12:21 am

I had a bit of a “mind-blowing” experience today, and I was the source. Sadly it wasn’t something profound that caused it, but a confusion of sorts that was playing out in an unexpected way. The CBC ran an article today about a soldier who lost his leg in Afghanistan due to an IED (and three other people in the vehicle died), and has successfully rehabilitated himself to be able to go back into service over there.

What was intersting for me is that I know him. I don’t know him well, as he’s “a friend of a friend of a friend”, but I have met him a few times to think that I know him. And I think he’s a good guy. From talking with his wife, there was some trepedation with him going back to Afghanistan, but it is clearly important for him. What struck me in all of this though, was one comment in particular. Someone refered to Simon as “a war-mongerer”, becuase there is no other way someone would want to go back after what he has experienced. This comment left me very angry. From the conversations I’ve had with Simon, war isn’t something glamourous, exciting, or garbage like that. It wasn’t like he wanted to go over and “shoot those –insert explitive here–”. He truly believes in the good that the mission has done, and will do.

Now, what was interesting in my mind is that I don’t like war, and from what I’ve read in the media, I’m concerned that what is happening in Afghanistan is not good. I really believe that as a world we would be better off eliminating the option of killing each other (and perhaps blowing things up, and dragging in innocent people) as a way of resolving conflict, and yet here in my mind I was seriously wanting to comment to say that he should have the right to continue to serve over there, and good on him for sticking to his principles.

The cognitive dissonance in my mind interested me at that point, because I was beginning to get a glimpse of what unity might look like. I’m sure if Simon and I were in a debate, I would be strongly on the “anti-war in Afghanistan” and he would be “pro”, but I respect his opinion and right to go and serve. The reason why I can say this is that I know for the both of us we’re comming from the same place - wanting to see the best for those in Afghanistan.

Perhaps as Christians, we shouldn’t get so worked up about “pro” vs. “anti” war, or gay-rights, or what ever, becuase at the heart of it we’re just wanting to share Jesus with people, trying to offer them what we see as great hope.

Lets remember what we have in common, and that’s Jesus, who is the source of great things.

One Response to “Cognitive Dissonance sounds lovely”

andrew Says:
October 6th, 2009 at 3:40 am
The question that lingers, then, is what does it really mean “to share Jesus with people?” I guess, in some sense, I wonder how or if “sharing Jesus” depoliticises things - or if it might not make things a lot more complex…