Acknowledgment ...

Recognition that we do exist ...whether anonymous, or forced attention

Which do you believe is the exemplary example of behavior??

                 Smashing bicycle racks and throwing the metal through university windows at Berkeley

                 

                 Contributions towards combating famine throughout the world

Most things can be viewed as either positive, or negative.  And each person's view has likely been influenced by those of others.

Acceptance ...

                 We are told that there are five stages that people go through while coping with the death of a loved one.  

1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance

When someone visits another country, one of the first things that happens (unless it's a hostile country), is that which most gracious hosts do ...extend hospitality by feeding you a meal to offer contentment or satisfaction, showing you things unique to their country, and telling you about themselves.

This lends towards acknowledging that they have something to offer.

And you offer a gracious "Thank you!!" after eating the meal.  Seeing things unique to their country is like a gift they feel they have that they want to share with you. And by listening to them tell about themselves, you are strengthening that acknowledgment.

A short visit can be planned ...and they usually plan to show you all the positive points of their lives.  If the visit becomes longer, then more awkward situations may complicate that good feeling ... as each society also has things they are not so proud of.  

As there are things they want to show you, and tell you about ...there are also things they may not be so eager for you to discover.

And why is this??

Simply, it is because they have a sense of right and wrong ...and they want you not to judge them solely upon the things that may not be so good.

Going back to the five stages of acceptance, let's look at them not as steps towards coping with the death of a loved one ...but, rather, steps towards what is dying within us.

1. Denial ---we often deny the existence of problems that decay society. Denial is also closely linked to a technique of being the first to accuse or point the finger at ...drawing attention away from what is difficult to admit at this time, by also heightening the shame in the other direction.
2. Anger ---is too often the way we respond to the problems we deny even exist. We don't even want to hear that there is a problem.
3. Bargaining ---comes in many forms, of which compromise is one of them. Problems don't go away, they are just relabeled.
4. Acceptance ---of the very thing that is the problem, because we no longer view it as a problem. And, of course, we just continue to repeat steps #1 through #3.

And this, of course, creates its own continuing narrative (or story) that we either help write, or are at least comfortable with.