{"id":6828,"date":"2016-10-30T08:43:33","date_gmt":"2016-10-30T12:43:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=6828"},"modified":"2016-10-30T08:43:33","modified_gmt":"2016-10-30T12:43:33","slug":"360-degrees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=6828","title":{"rendered":"360 degrees"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"photo-1471890932610-7ee4a5d280a9\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I can\u2019t. I just can\u2019t.<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve heard it a lot this election cycle. And I get it. But I\u2019d like to go out on a bit of a firm but gracious limb here and make a suggestion that might help us all at least talk a little nicer and get along a little more. Let\u2019s change the \u201cI can\u2019t\u201d<\/em> to \u201cI choose not to.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The problem with \u201cI can\u2019t\u201d<\/em> is that it makes it difficult to see how anyone else actually can. It makes it really hard to put ourselves in the shoes of another \u2014 even though \u201cputting yourself in someone else\u2019s shoes\u201d has been long thought to be a wise idiom. The reality this election season is that there exists only so many kinds of pairs we seem willing to put on.<\/p>\n

So let\u2019s try another angle\u2026<\/p>\n

In a circle, there exist 360 degrees. That means if 360 people surround a single object, each person\u2019s perspective will be different. The persons nearest to us will logically possess a fairly similar perspective. The person directly opposite, on the polar, other side of the object, will have a completely different point of view. And those 90 degrees to the left or the right will see things that make absolutely no sense to me\u2026 I may even wonder if we are watching the same scenario unfold.<\/p>\n

But that means that each of those 360 perspectives has validity. Just because I can\u2019t see it, doesn\u2019t allow me to dismiss it; just because I don\u2019t share it, doesn\u2019t make it wrong. And my perspective \u2014 passionate as it may be \u2014 is limited; it is only one degree. My perspective is limited as long as I stand only in my position, in that one degree\u2026 wearing only my shoes\u2026 and\/or only borrowing a pair or two from those most adjacent to me.<\/p>\n

Without a doubt, this is a unique election season. We have two primary presidential candidates (according to Pew Research)<\/em> with whom 57% of likely American voters are frustrated or disgusted. That means the majority of us are not that excited to vote for either of the two. There do exist persons who are excited, and their perspective should not be diminished nor discounted. But the majority of us wish the slate was different. It is not.<\/p>\n

As we then wrestle with this slate, many have said, \u201cI can\u2019t vote for _____\u201d<\/em>\u2026 him\u2026 her\u2026 fill in the blank.<\/p>\n

But the reality is that we are choosing<\/strong><\/em> to vote or not vote for someone. Democracy is a choice.<\/strong><\/em> It is each individual\u2019s right and choice.<\/p>\n

I know many who are choosing to vote for Hillary Clinton. I know many who are choosing to vote for Donald Trump. Similarly, I know people voting for Gary Johnson, Jill Stein, and even Evan McMullin. But my point is that such is our constitutionally-given, rightful, individual choice.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

While I comprehend the emotion behind \u201cl can\u2019t,\u201d<\/em> our vote is still a choice. And the challenge with the failure to recognize that it is a choice, is that it often denies the 359 other perspectives in the circle.<\/p>\n

Each of us perceives and prioritizes so many angles and options\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2026 the party platforms\u2026 the candidates\u2019 individual experience\u2026 the possibility of promises made and past promises kept\u2026 the health of the economy\u2026 healthcare\u2026 the approach to the war on terror\u2026 taxes\u2026 reducing\/increasing the deficit and debt\u2026 social issues\u2026 states\u2019 rights\u2026 religious liberty\u2026 foreign affairs\u2026 energy and education\u2026 the protection of our country, women\u2019s rights, civil rights, the unborn, etc\u2026 potential Supreme Court justices\u2026 the integrity of the individual candidates\u2026 their behavior and words\u2026 and the integrity of the people who surround them.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s be clear, though: how we perceive each of the above depends on which of the 360 angles we are looking from\u2026 360 angles\u2026 all different.<\/p>\n

Hence, let\u2019s do better at remembering the existence of other angles. Let\u2019s do better at remembering how much our perceptions are based on only a few spots within those 360 degrees. And let\u2019s start by graciously putting ourselves in someone else\u2019s shoes.<\/p>\n

Respectfully\u2026
\nAR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I can\u2019t. I just can\u2019t. I\u2019ve heard it a lot this election cycle. And I get it. But I\u2019d like to go out on a bit of a firm but gracious limb here and make a suggestion that might help us all at least talk a little nicer and get along a little more. Let\u2019s … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “360 degrees”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6828","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-event","category-current-issue"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6828","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6828"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6828\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6834,"href":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6828\/revisions\/6834"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6828"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6828"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6828"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}