The Pursuit of Happiness Via Positive, Constructive, Tolerant Thinking

Recently (actually, over the past several years), I have heard so many arguments  that lacked any sort of truly logical thought, much less demonstrated any sort of reflection upon the nature of the matter, that it has begun to drive me insane.  I don't have actual quotes; I don't want to directly attack anyone.  But here is a small sample of the nature of some of these arguments:

• Obama being elected to the presidency has made the issue of racism in the United States obsolete.
• We need to help the normal people, first.  Then we can help the ___[other "not normal"]___ people. Providing elevators, interpreters, note-takers, enlarged print documents, ramps, hearing aids, glasses, ... should not be a requirement of society, much less of insurance companies.  If you need such items: that's your own fault/problem (not mine), and you (not I) should have to pay for it.
• If I, as a Christian, were living in the Islamic parts of the Middle East, I'd be dead by now.
• A leader of a small group of individuals should be trusted to speak on the group's behalf, without each of the members of that group providing permission.  To require such permission is a violation of that leader's freedoms of speech and/or expression.  The members should trust the leader represent them without their consent, to say the "right" things for each of them.
• There are more women than men attending college now: sexism is no longer an issue for women.  In fact, now it's an issue for men!
•  If you don't believe in my beliefs, then I can't be your friend because your beliefs threaten the foundation of mine.

All of these "rationalities" seem to have at least one thing in common: a fear of some sort.  It might be a fear of having to work harder.  It might be a fear of the unknown.  It might be a fear of losing power, money, community standing, or a sense of self. Another thing they may all have in common is an insensitivity towards -- perhaps even an intolerance of -- others.  I'm not really thinking of the ideal human behavior.  Furthermore, I know and accept that we all have fears, some quite justified, and we all have needs to preserve our sense of self (and/or our community standing, money, power, known parameters, or work load limitations).  However, I'm thinking how this kind of thinking, the actual entertainment of such ideas, is so negative and destructive. In other words, I'm not saying that such thinking is wrong:  I am saying that I feel it moves each of us in a direction away from general happiness.

 In response to some of the above, for example:

• We should try to help all of the people all of the time, knowing that we are doing the most we can for most everyone (and forgiving ourselves if we can't help everyone), regardless of who and what each person may be.  The only limitations should be time and energy.  Everyone needs something some time.  We are all disabled; we are all abled.  Recognition of this fact allows for a grace to providing for others.  (Providing for others is providing, ultimately, for ourselves. There is no person who is "normal" in some way, who isn't also "abnormal" in some other way.)
  
• If I, as a Christian, were living in the Islamic parts of the Middle East, I'd learn to survive and thrive among my fellow believers and to both tolerate and be tolerated by my fellow non-believers.  (I could die any time, anywhere, for any reason-- I have no real control over this fact.) (By the way, I am NOT Christian.)
  
• A true leader works hard to make sure he/she understands and fully represents the views of the collective body of the group and has each member's consent to be represented as a part of a group action (such as by a vote).  (Trust is built and maintained in this manner, isn't it?)

Judgements and actions based upon difference (race, gender, sexuality, beliefs, ethnicity, nationality, abilities,...) are almost never justified, and racism, sexism, intolerance of others' beliefs and other forms of intolerance still exist, and may always exist.  Perhaps to believe that one can eradicate such intolerance--as if it were polio or some biological disease-- is a set-up for failure, deconstructive and ultimately negative?  However, to accept that intolerances of these kinds exist and thus reason that they can be ignored is also deconstructive and ultimately negative.

Striving for high amounts of positive and constructive thinking is a difficult challenge.  I like to compare such efforts to striving to jog or walk 20 (okay, even 5) miles in a day, to save $100,000.00 in a year,  to make an original scientific discovery, or to create an artistic masterpiece.  For me,  the journey is worth the efforts.

Everyone is different; the similarities between individuals, much less groups, are the wonderful things that should be focused upon and celebrated--not the awful things that "should" keep us apart.

I don't believe in pushing my ideas upon others, but I suppose that I can't help but represent them.  I understand and respect that we each have a right to think, believe and feel as we do, but I also think, believe and feel that negative energy (negative thoughts, negative feelings, negative beliefs) begets destructive behavior.  For me, by the way, thinking supersedes belief and feelings, almost always.  

Individuals can focus upon the intolerance each has for others, work on the self, in positive and constructive ways, including healing ways: sooth hurt feelings, make statements that rebuild self-confidence, donate money,....  I think, believe, and feel that, ultimately, to practice general tolerance, constructive behavior, and positive thinking-believing-feeling is to strive toward happiness. 

So, I write this, thinking (and thus believing and feeling) that I am making a positive statement that is somehow constructive.  What am I building?  I'll let you know as soon as I know.