Conflict

A conflict is when two parties have different goals, ideologies, needs, expectations, etc.  In essence, conflict is present everywhere among us.  In our classroom alone, think about the differences in religious and political beliefs.  Each of us is from a different background and feels strongly about certain subjects.  In some cases, conflict can be a positive thing.  It is important to have people representing opposing opinions.  If we were all clones and had the same goals in life, we would either have very boring lives or extremely conflicting lives.  Our lives would be boring because no one would ever challenge our ethics and beliefs.  We would always be right.  Certainly, that’s not any fun.  Some of the best ideas have come from collaborations between opposing viewpoints.  On the other hand, our lives could be too conflicting because everyone would be fighting for the same needs and wants.  In a positive perspective, conflict creates balance.  People push each other to learn more and advocate our ideas. 

In the negative perspective, conflict can lead to aggression and violence.  Sometimes people of contradicting religions or political standpoints degrade others who do not believe in the same things.  Sometimes this derogatory behavior leads to acts of violence.  For example, Martin Luther King Jr. was killed for his belief that we were all equal despite race or gender. When people have conflicting views, they will often times block out the other person’s views.  This wall does nothing but lead to animosity.  Pro-life versus pro-choice is a huge conflict in today’s society.  Transgender and homosexual rights are another issue.  Oil companies want to drill more, but environmental groups seek other options.  All of these conflicts can lead to acts of aggression and violence, some more extreme than others.  Where do we draw the line between a positive balance of opposing views that shape the world we live in and the aggression and violence that result from hostility between disparate views?