Tuesday, March 2, 2010

The color 'green'

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if one of the colors didn't exist?

The other day I was wondering what it would be like if the color 'green' didn't exist. 'How?' you might ask. It just doesn't. It never did.
'But grass is 'green',' you might tell a person.
'No,' they respond. 'Grass is 'blue'.'
You don't know what to do. Because in your mind, grass is 'green'. End of argument. Grass has always been 'green'. It never was another color. You look outside. Seeing what in your mind is very 'green' grass, you point out to your fellow person that the grass is indeed very 'green'.
The person shakes his or her head. 'Nope, that grass is 'blue'. And what is this 'green' you are talking about? I have never heard of it.'
'Grass is 'green'!' you insist. ''Green' is the color of grass. The color made by mixing yellow and blue. Leaves are 'green'. Some trees are 'green'.'
But the other person also insisted that all that you have said is 'blue' not 'green'. S/he also insisted that the color 'green' doesn't exist. There is only red, orange, yellow, blue, and purple. No 'green'.
You are shocked. You know that you are right. There is a 'green' and this person's 'blue' is most certainly 'green'. They just have no idea what they are talking about.

I bet you have done that exact thing before in real life. Don't look at me that way. Of course I am not referring to colors. I am talking about real life. When have you been convinced of something, but someone argues with you about it.
You know you are right.
Of course.
And you know that they are wrong.
Of course.
But how often is it that we are actually agreeing on something?
The two people in the above example were really agreeing with each other. The grass's color never changed. It was always the same. The thing that changed was the person.

'A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.'

How often have you called someone's blue green?
How often have you judged someone only to find that you were judging yourself?
How often have you argued only to find that you were agreeing?

My answer to all those questions is way too many times. I have argued so many times only to find that I was wrong or even agreeing with the person. Arguments can ruin friendships and lives.

Blue or green.

They are still the same if the above story was true.

Think about it.

1 comment:

  1. Mom: Wow. Excellent insight, babe. You are a terrific writer and deep thinker. Good questions. My answer, like yours, is way too many times. Thanks for this essay. And sorry you inherited some less than desirable tendencies from your mom... Maybe you will wise up at a young age - from the looks of this, you will! Love you! Mama

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