Let’s touch on a touchy issue raging across our nation—race. Now, let’s debunk it. There is only one race—the human race—so we’re all living this huge earth-experiment together. There are cultural differences, there is a continuum of pigmentation shades—from nearly clear to shining black—and these differences do not constitute “race.” One race = human race. Enough said.
By changing semantics (and recognizing we are all together living on one planet) we can begin to change the nature of bias; we can begin to accept, even embrace, diversity. Our mission in life is to listen to the variety of voices, to challenge assumptions, and to recognize our own intolerances (and we ALL have them).
Be kind. Play nice. Share. Smile. These positive actions feel good and are good for our health (endorphins are excellent). We DID learn these things early in life—let’s practice them daily and frequently throughout the day.
Peace and blessings (practice the first; count the second).
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Positive political discourse starts with you.
When did it become politically correct to preach hatred, to foment violence, to praise assassins? I’m seriously troubled by the tone of the voices rising from the extremes of our country. Where are the peers of these highly inflamed and inflammatory individuals—the people who would have, in the past, given them no sanction? We can but call upon civilized people to turn away from provocative speech, to refuse to listen to the vituperations, to chastise those who generate hate.
If every individual who understands that the current tone of discourse is inappropriate were to turn away and give no credence to those that foment hate and intolerance, if each person were to shun those who speak unbecomingly and distastefully, the discourse would change over time. Reaction is what the reactionaries seek.
If one were at a town hall meeting where the perverse start spewing hatred, the group could sit quietly offering no response to the childish outburst. The speaker, too, could choose to seat him- or herself, turn away, and wait for the tirade to end. One could simply disassociate from the ill-considered behavior and cause the climate of the gathering to change. Children learn to change their behavior when misbehavior no longer works—adults can learn the same lessons.
We must speak out. We must refuse to react to the reactionaries. Count to ten. Walk away. Say, “That is an inappropriate remark.” “Excuse me. I cannot understand you when you talk hate, when you spout bigotry, when you tell lies.”
Be willing to change the conversation. It starts with you and it starts at home.
Peace and blessings (practice the first; count the second).
If every individual who understands that the current tone of discourse is inappropriate were to turn away and give no credence to those that foment hate and intolerance, if each person were to shun those who speak unbecomingly and distastefully, the discourse would change over time. Reaction is what the reactionaries seek.
If one were at a town hall meeting where the perverse start spewing hatred, the group could sit quietly offering no response to the childish outburst. The speaker, too, could choose to seat him- or herself, turn away, and wait for the tirade to end. One could simply disassociate from the ill-considered behavior and cause the climate of the gathering to change. Children learn to change their behavior when misbehavior no longer works—adults can learn the same lessons.
We must speak out. We must refuse to react to the reactionaries. Count to ten. Walk away. Say, “That is an inappropriate remark.” “Excuse me. I cannot understand you when you talk hate, when you spout bigotry, when you tell lies.”
Be willing to change the conversation. It starts with you and it starts at home.
Peace and blessings (practice the first; count the second).
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
No one's perfect, but let's try listening (and let's talk in our nice voices)
I know my stance about positive political discourse might be surprising for some who know me for having a flashing temper. However, I am trying to improve, and I practice civility, though I might slip at times. Things I do try to avoid are categorizing and generalizations about political parties or people. I believe there are fundamental differences between acting in a deplorable manner while under great duress and behaving deplorably as a method of force, without rational thought—while defending one’s right bray while denying another that same right.
Shouting down differing opinions does not change the opinion, nor does it lead to anything constructive in the way of compromise or of brainstorming new, inventive ways to approach the challenges we have. If we can refrain from personalities and hate generation, we might be able to find common ground—or even new grounds on which to agree. It isn’t going to happen, though, without a willingness to listen to differing opinions. Obviously, we all favor our own opinions, but a willingness to consider change opens doors, instead of closing them.
One of the biggest looming political problems is the relationship between the United States and the Middle East. In order to solve these problems, we must listen to Iran, we must listen to Palestine, and we must truly hear what they have to say, and what they believe can be done to find positive solutions to their challenges.
In a thoughtful interview, peace activist and compassionate listener, Gene Knudsen Hoffman was asked, “You frequently say that ‘An enemy is one who story we have not yet heard.’ What do you mean by that? Do you contend that terrorists have resorted to violence because their stories have not been heard?”
She wrote, “Yes, I do contend. I think a terrorist is someone who thinks his/her grievances will never be heard and never addressed, and I think that causes deep pain and anger which is an invitation to violence. I believe violence is caused by our unhealed wounds. I think not being heard and not being listened to is a grave wound.” (From, Which Way Should We Go Now? [page 53] Anthology: Sustainability, Radical Solutions Inspiring Hope, Ed. Bob Banner, HopeDance: San Luis Obispo, CA).
She writes the truth. Fear and unheard grievances prevent us from positive political discourse. Let’s listen, today.
Peace and blessings (practice the first; count the second).
Shouting down differing opinions does not change the opinion, nor does it lead to anything constructive in the way of compromise or of brainstorming new, inventive ways to approach the challenges we have. If we can refrain from personalities and hate generation, we might be able to find common ground—or even new grounds on which to agree. It isn’t going to happen, though, without a willingness to listen to differing opinions. Obviously, we all favor our own opinions, but a willingness to consider change opens doors, instead of closing them.
One of the biggest looming political problems is the relationship between the United States and the Middle East. In order to solve these problems, we must listen to Iran, we must listen to Palestine, and we must truly hear what they have to say, and what they believe can be done to find positive solutions to their challenges.
In a thoughtful interview, peace activist and compassionate listener, Gene Knudsen Hoffman was asked, “You frequently say that ‘An enemy is one who story we have not yet heard.’ What do you mean by that? Do you contend that terrorists have resorted to violence because their stories have not been heard?”
She wrote, “Yes, I do contend. I think a terrorist is someone who thinks his/her grievances will never be heard and never addressed, and I think that causes deep pain and anger which is an invitation to violence. I believe violence is caused by our unhealed wounds. I think not being heard and not being listened to is a grave wound.” (From, Which Way Should We Go Now? [page 53] Anthology: Sustainability, Radical Solutions Inspiring Hope, Ed. Bob Banner, HopeDance: San Luis Obispo, CA).
She writes the truth. Fear and unheard grievances prevent us from positive political discourse. Let’s listen, today.
Peace and blessings (practice the first; count the second).
Monday, September 14, 2009
Musing about positive discourse
We, in the United States, are in the midst of intense societal change akin to the changes of the 1960s and 1970s. We have become so divided that we are not moving through these difficult times with grace, kindness, and higher good at the forefront of national discourse. Perhaps it is time to back up and consider civility and intelligent discourse the means by which to achieve positive compromise, and to further the general social objectives and civil rights we hold so dear.
Last November, we saw the fulfillment of a promise made in America beginning with Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation, furthered by Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America, adopted in 1865, and strengthened by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. These were acts of a higher good and recognition of what is best within the people of the United States.
However, we remain a nation of slow progress, irrational ideas, and repeated, thus far unlearned lessons—often because we allow fear entrance to our conversations, and we become “entranced” by that fear. We are also a nation of stubborn individuals that hold firm convictions against the rational thought and valid argumentation that could allow us to see the issues more clearly. That tendency enables us to believe the stories told to us by the extremes of each political party—and it is divisive and unproductive to allow this to happen any more. It is not too late to invite courtesy and rational discourse to the public conversation.
Current trends of vituperative shouting, personal attacks, and inflammatory speech must be replaced by quiet discourse, a focus on challenges not personalities, and a willingness to listen to the concerns of the “other side.”
Let’s take time to look into the eyes of the individuals who differ with us, see and feel their humanity, listen to their concerns, and be willing to seek higher good through compromise.
Peace and blessings (practice the first; count the second).
Last November, we saw the fulfillment of a promise made in America beginning with Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation, furthered by Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America, adopted in 1865, and strengthened by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. These were acts of a higher good and recognition of what is best within the people of the United States.
However, we remain a nation of slow progress, irrational ideas, and repeated, thus far unlearned lessons—often because we allow fear entrance to our conversations, and we become “entranced” by that fear. We are also a nation of stubborn individuals that hold firm convictions against the rational thought and valid argumentation that could allow us to see the issues more clearly. That tendency enables us to believe the stories told to us by the extremes of each political party—and it is divisive and unproductive to allow this to happen any more. It is not too late to invite courtesy and rational discourse to the public conversation.
Current trends of vituperative shouting, personal attacks, and inflammatory speech must be replaced by quiet discourse, a focus on challenges not personalities, and a willingness to listen to the concerns of the “other side.”
Let’s take time to look into the eyes of the individuals who differ with us, see and feel their humanity, listen to their concerns, and be willing to seek higher good through compromise.
Peace and blessings (practice the first; count the second).
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