April 26, 2010 
We had a disagreement last night at our house. It's the rare instance when Doug and I don't fall on the same side of the fence on a political issue, but it happens. (What the issue was I won't go into here, since I'm not trying to start a political debate about it right now.) The important thing about it was that although we both feel very strongly about why we believe what we believe, we both recognize the validity of the opposing point of view and respect its merits. We can both agree to respectfully disagree, without resorting to name-calling and judgments about the intelligence level of someone whose viewpoint differs from our own. Wouldn't it be nice if the politicians and activists and pundits of the world could do the same? How much could be done if those in power spent more time hearing the other side than they do disparaging the character or intelligence of people who feel passionately about the causes they champion?
We had a disagreement last night at our house. It's the rare instance when Doug and I don't fall on the same side of the fence on a political issue, but it happens. (What the issue was I won't go into here, since I'm not trying to start a political debate about it right now.) The important thing about it was that although we both feel very strongly about why we believe what we believe, we both recognize the validity of the opposing point of view and respect its merits. We can both agree to respectfully disagree, without resorting to name-calling and judgments about the intelligence level of someone whose viewpoint differs from our own. Wouldn't it be nice if the politicians and activists and pundits of the world could do the same? How much could be done if those in power spent more time hearing the other side than they do disparaging the character or intelligence of people who feel passionately about the causes they champion?
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sigh. would that it could be that way.
ReplyDeleteSo, for the sports guy in me .... Who won? It can't end in a tie, can it?
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I argue about politics all the time. Unfortunately, I am not sure we are always as peaceful as you and your husband.
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