Rational Dialogue
This was first posted on my Facebook page on November 10, 2016. I'm reposting it here to make it easier to find and reference. You comments are most welcome.
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Dialogue: We are at a point now in our political process where it is very important to seek to understand what each of us wants and needs from our leadership. We need to seek the areas of common ground and work together to achieve progress in those areas. There is a huge blockade standing in our way. That blockade is the use of insults and generalizations when talking about "the other," regardless of who the other might be. The use of an insult as part of a discussion stops rational discussion in it's tracks. Likewise, the use of broad generalizations can do the same. Some examples:
1. We need to have some serious discussions about firearms in this country. When someone opens with "gun grabbers" or "ammosexuals" the rational discussion is over. The shouting match as once again begun.
2. We need to have some serious discussions about the treatment of women and people of various races in this country. When the discussion turns to "middle aged white males are the problem" or those who take a knee should be shot, the discussion is over. Some of us who ARE middle aged white males are outraged by the treatment of women and people of various races. Some of us who stand for our anthem deeply respect those who choose to take a knee. [In my case those taking a knee and otherwise being respectful of the anthem are behaving much better than the folks who can't stop talking, drinking etc. during the anthem.]
I think you get the idea. Please drop the insults and generalizations that exclude others from the discussion and let us get really serious about talking about our problems.
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Dialogue: We are at a point now in our political process where it is very important to seek to understand what each of us wants and needs from our leadership. We need to seek the areas of common ground and work together to achieve progress in those areas. There is a huge blockade standing in our way. That blockade is the use of insults and generalizations when talking about "the other," regardless of who the other might be. The use of an insult as part of a discussion stops rational discussion in it's tracks. Likewise, the use of broad generalizations can do the same. Some examples:
1. We need to have some serious discussions about firearms in this country. When someone opens with "gun grabbers" or "ammosexuals" the rational discussion is over. The shouting match as once again begun.
2. We need to have some serious discussions about the treatment of women and people of various races in this country. When the discussion turns to "middle aged white males are the problem" or those who take a knee should be shot, the discussion is over. Some of us who ARE middle aged white males are outraged by the treatment of women and people of various races. Some of us who stand for our anthem deeply respect those who choose to take a knee. [In my case those taking a knee and otherwise being respectful of the anthem are behaving much better than the folks who can't stop talking, drinking etc. during the anthem.]
I think you get the idea. Please drop the insults and generalizations that exclude others from the discussion and let us get really serious about talking about our problems.