[What a treat to spend extended time with these 6 individuals. What a growth opportunity to be sharpened by those who don’t all think the same as me. Here is the end of our 5 part series, as articulated by Brent, Janie, Mike, Roni, Ronnie, and Ruth, and their recognition of intentional respect as the first, best step forward…]
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AR: Ok, friends — and that’s what you are… I so appreciate how each of you recognizes that friendship and relationship are more important than agreement and likemindedness. Give me some final thoughts as we wrap this up (although I have a sneaky suspicion we may keep talking…).
BRENT: Nobody reads BOOKS anymore! I see so many people my age (31) and younger completely detached from the mechanics of real learning or study. I read a note today that summed it up well, saying, “We educate to the point of accepting what we’ve been taught, but not enough to question it.”
RONI: This group is a group of readers. The number of bookstores that have gone out of business is incredible. Very sad. Many read on-line, but sadly many done. I think you make a good point.
MIKE: In the spirit of what Ann is promoting here, I’ll put myself out there. Why is it assumed because I am conservative that I am evil, greedy, prejudiced, and/or don’t care about people in need? Because I assure you, none are true.
RONI: Likewise, as being termed liberal, why am I seen as wasteful, soft on crime, not a real Christian, and unpatriotic?
AR: Why are people so judgmental of political identifications?
MIKE: Equally fair questions, Roni, though I do not equate politics with crime, religion, or patriotism.
RUTH: I’m with Mike, in that I despise the way people have treated others, as in the stories shared here of assumptions and hateful treatment toward others. The only way I know to conceptualize why there’s so much judgment is because we’re in a fallen world, awaiting us unifying, while an enemy stirs up division and strife. If one has received mercy from the Creator, even in disagreement, empathy is possible toward “opposing sides.”
RONI: Empathy or a lack there of plays a significant role. Seeing if someone who seems so different from you has the same value but through a different lens is critical.
MIKE: This has been great conversation. This is the way our political discourse should be. And Congress. It could be, if we could focus on everyone winning rather than our side winning. We all lose when we won’t let the other side win.
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Our conversation actually covered far more, fascinating ground. We went on to respectfully discuss the following, although arguably each to a limited extent:
- Why a person is conservative
- Why a person is liberal
- Why it is inaccurate to identify conservatives as “angry, white males”
- Why it is inaccurate to label either party/partisans as either “meaner” or “kinder” than another
- “Hateful attitudes” on both sides
- The sadness and potential hate in “unfriending”
- Voting for the person as opposed to party
- Russian involvement/WikiLeaks
- The burden of our $19 trillion debt
- States rights
- The role of the federal government — how big should it be?
- Economic analysis of the Carrier deal
- North Carolina
- The value/concerns of privatization — including education
- Perceived economic differences
- Populist candidates
- Potential cabinet nominations and appointees
- Racism, socialism, elitism, etc.
- The wide, bipartisan respect for Colin Powell
- The power that accompanies wealth
- The Electoral College
- William F. Buckley
- If the current Dem. and Rep. parties are consistent with their predecessors
- Putting down our labels
- How “everybody is right and everybody is wrong”
- How true conservatives and true liberals are alike and often agree on concepts
- Where we each get our news
- The Chicago Cubs and more.
There was generous affirmation, questions, and respect, finding more we had in common than did not. We get into trouble when we magnify the “did not’s.” So allow me to close with a couple more comments from the table…
MIKE: Sounds like lots of agreement here. If we could unite in purpose, I think we could figure out how to get there.
RONI: I think this group could find enough agreement to make things work fairly for all.
RUTH: I appreciate the hope and value each of you all have brought to the table. I am thankful for the ability, as upside down as the world is, to still reach across and shake hands, and show care, concern, and hope.
Agreed… and amen.
Respectfully…
AR