Blind Idealism is Deadly, by Kate Dunham

If I had been walking down the High Line on any prior given day, I am confident I would have passed this message without taking a moment to consider its meaning. However, with this assignment in mind, I was inspired to stop and really think about the importance of these words. “Blind idealism is reactionary scary deadly.” Although none of these words refer to a specific religion, nor does the sentence offer an explicitly religious thought as a whole, I appreciated how this statement could serve as a lesson to all who pass it. Without pointing to one particular religion, it encourages all human beings to reflect on their own morals that guide their faith and belief systems.
            As discussed in class, it is far too narrow to believe that “America” only refers to the United States, as the name originally covered much greater boundaries. In the same light, it is a harsh generalization to think of all citizens of the United States of America as a uniform body with the same values, desires, and ideologies. In reality, United States citizens come from numerous places around the world with very different cultural norms. These differences are often easily visible within the culture’s religious beliefs. Some may believe in many Gods and some may believe in one God, while others feel certain that not a single God exists. The phrase “Blind idealism is reactionary scary deadly” applies to any religion, as it calls to reflect on each individual’s personal ideals.
            Idealism is an individual’s thought on how he or she believes life should be. Religious or not, it is natural for human beings to possess ideals. They often serve as motivation to create goals, and work hard towards achieving them. The phrase “blind idealism” refers to not knowing exactly what your own ideals are, or following principles without completely accepting or understanding their meaning. People are persuaded in many ways in today’s society, which makes it even more complicated to hold unwavering personal ideals. As the side of the building reads, blind idealism is not only reactionary, it is not just scary; it is deadly. This is a bold statement to make in our world today that is filled with religious, sexist, and racial discrimination accompanied with acts of terror that cost the lives of innocent civilians far too regularly. In some way or another, however, every human being has experienced the sting of loss and death. This building’s message tugs at the hearts of those who pass by, encouraging them to reduce the hurt in our world by refusing to fall victim to blind idealism. It stresses the importance of maintaining a strong foundation in your beliefs despite the many temptations citizens encounter each day. While religious morals do coincide with our ideal values, religious followers have the opportunity to resist influence that will take them down an unknown path. This relativist thought reflects the same fundamentals of post-structuralism, which states that no two cultures are alike, and not one particular culture is positively right or wrong. This message encourages humans to express their own opinion, as long as it is carefully considered and supported.
             Standing approximately 30 feet tall with barely a chip in the vivid paint, this strong message is seen by the large majority of New York City residents and tourists who walk the highly popular High Line every day. “Blind idealism is reactionary scary deadly” poses the question; have we allowed society to influence us in ways that have changed our core values and beliefs? The message is an encouragement and reminder to reflect on our own beliefs and, more importantly, understand why we have faith in them.