Many have valid, current concerns, but the Intramuralist’s primary concern is not with any singular person.<\/p>\n
Let me say more; there are significant reasons to be concerned in today\u2019s socio-political climate, but my chief concern rests with no one\u00a0person or one party. It rests with something bigger. It rests with us.<\/p>\n
Said by American Enterprise Institute President Arthur Brooks at Harvard Kennedy School this week, sharing a a lesson from the Dalai Lama in overcoming political polarization\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t have an anger problem in American politics. We have a contempt problem<\/strong> in American politics.<\/em><\/p>\n Contempt is defined by social psychologists as \u2018the utter conviction of the worthlessness of another human being.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n If you listen to people talk to each other in political life today, they talk to each other with pure contempt. When somebody around you treats you with contempt, you never quite forget it.<\/em><\/p>\n So if we want to solve the problem of polarization today, we have to solve the contempt<\/strong> problem.<\/em><\/p>\n I sometimes write with the Dalai Lama. I was thinking about this contempt problem, and I said, \u2018Your Holiness, what do I do when I feel contempt?\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n And he said, \u2018Practice warm heartedness.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n And I started thinking about it, and it\u2019s true. When I do that, when we do that, when we have leaders who can do that, it\u2019s utterly world-changing.<\/em><\/p>\n Catch yourself. You can show true strength, if next time you hear contempt,<\/strong> you answer with warm heartedness. Every single one of us is going to have an opportunity on social media, or in-person to answer somebody\u2019s contempt. Are you going to do the right thing? And make the world a little bit better, and show your strength, and make your enemies your friends?<\/em><\/p>\n Or are you going to make the problem worse?<\/em><\/p>\n That\u2019s a question each of us gets to answer, probably in the next 24 hours.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n That is sobering…<\/p>\n … incredibly sobering. Are we going to make this problem worse?<\/p>\n Truth is, right now way too many are justifying contempt. Way too many are justifying \u2014 consciously or not \u2014 to conclude that another is utterly worthless. And way too many are insulated by listening only to the likeminded. The truth also is, that most of the rest of us are weary of hearing the contempt holders scream. In fact, it\u2019s often very hard to actually hear them.<\/p>\n It is totally reasonable to be concerned, but when in our concern, we justify concluding that another human being is worthless, I soberly state we are missing what is wisest.<\/p>\n Heed the wisdom of Arthur Brooks and the Dalai Lama.<\/p>\n Want to solve the polarization problem? Want to quit feeding the foolishness? Then start with self. Start with no one else. Catch yourself. Attempt to catch no one else. Quit pointing fingers. Practice warm heartedness instead of contempt.<\/p>\n Such is a\u00a0true, contagious showing of strength.<\/p>\n Respectfully\u2026 Many have valid, current concerns, but the Intramuralist’s primary concern is not with any singular person. Let me say more; there are significant reasons to be concerned in today\u2019s socio-political climate, but my chief concern rests with no one\u00a0person or one party. It rests with something bigger. It rests with us. Said by American Enterprise … <\/p>\n
\nAR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"