One thing that cropped up a lot lately online is the idea that "we" have to win, and the only REAL way to win is by eradicating "them."

All or nothing. Win at all costs. The only way to succeed is to do away with anything else.

Conservative or liberal, pagan or Christian, city or rural, it doesn't seem to matter. "They" must be vanquished, exiled, destroyed for "us" to win.

But veritas comes out. Because if the only way for "them" to win is by Total Eradication, doesn't that mean that as long as one small spark exists, they didn't win? If the only was for "us" to win is by otal Eradication, doesn't that mean that as long as one small spark exists, we didn't win?

It goes deeper than that of course. It goes back to borders. In order for any side to progress, ideas have to be mixed. It's where ideas evolve. It's where change happens.

It's where magick happens.

We need those ideas that we totally disagree with. We need truths that make us uncomfortable. We need challenges that we can't meet alone.

It's the mix, it's the argument, it's the conflict that will give us some of our best new ideas. And almost all of the bad new ideas too.

We've no way of knowing which is which until we've tried them. All we know for sure is that our old ideas don't always fit our new circumstances.

Eradication isn't the answer. That's not where the Spark of Inspiration lies.

But some disagreement, some need, some faith, and the willingness to try something else, that gives miracles. Messy miracles, but still miracles.

Just something to think about.