I've been thinking a lot lately about the notion that reasonable people may disagree on some subjects. It's a no-brainer, really, isn't it? One of the things that makes life so interesting is the varied philosophies and temperaments that comprise the people in one's own life, let alone the entire world. Inevitably, some of these variations in human life will give rise to disagreements; this is probably particularly true during an election year. I endeavor now, though I didn't always, to be polite and open to discussion, even with people that I know I will take the opposite sides of a given issue. I believe strongly that there are valid opposing points of view on most topics about which I feel strongly.
The other day, while driving to work, I pulled up at a traffic light behind an expensive, late-model SUV that was sporting a bumper sticker that read "Navy SEALS took out one Muslim threat to America, and it's up to the rest of us to remove the other." They also sported a small tasteful American flag on their (import) SUV.
Setting the irony of the flag aside for a moment, the bumper sticker just floored me for several moments. I live in an educated, affluent suburb of Kansas City. This person was ostensibly educated enough to recently a nice, imported SUV to display that ignorant bumper sticker.
As I said on Facebook when I related this anecdote initially, I followed it up with the thought this chance encounter had crystallized for me: "There are things about which reasonable people can disagree, but the emphasis is on the reasoning skills of both parties."
It's terribly depressing, but I think I've finally given up hope of meaningful exchanges of ideas with a vast swath of humanity. There's no reasoning with a person who holds views that willfully ignorant. There's no discussion or room for persuasion with someone who only latches on to the information that reinforces their worst ideas and biases.
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It's a grim idea. It fills me with fear and purpose though, and those two things are inextricably related. My fear is that this is the future of American discourse, and the time of cross-party cooperation is forever at an end. My purpose is to never, ever be one of those people for my own side.Today I ordered a bumper sticker for my own car:
Agreed. I would really like to have a genuine discourse with someone that has an opposing viewpoint where we both walk away thinking about ____ a little differently. I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for it to happen, though.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I would LOVE that, but it's been a dog's age since it happened. I've been trying to decide if that is because of something I am bringing to the table, or if culturally, it's just less and less common.
ReplyDeleteCulturally, temperance has lost it's value. Conversations quickly devolve into pejorative euphemisms and party lines, particularly during an election year, rather than an exchange of perspectives that yields a broader perspective on the subject.
ReplyDeleteI don't have to agree with you, but I should give you the courtesy of attempting to understand your perspective.
I'll grant that it's easier to take the high road when you don't LOATHE the president, but I have always tried to be respectful of the office even when the man holding it is dumb as a silk sack of monkey turds.
ReplyDeleteI have always enjoyed our discussions, and have never found that you were disagreeable even when we were very much disagreeing.