I really have enjoyed the back and forth in the comments over the last week. I realize the elections is an extremely important thing for everyone. With only one exception, it has been good to see an exchange of views reasoned out.
Some of you might be scratching yours heads saying what the heck are you talking about? What reason? What has been said makes absolutely no sense or is completely wrong.
If you are scratching your head, perhaps from your point of view the statements of others make no sense. I am pretty sure they think the same about your point of view.
We are all at times too quick to make assumptions about others. That is unfortunately human nature.
Another unfortunate fact of human nature is the tendency to simply react to everything and anything.
Two habits of nature that if not tempered, inevitably lead to opposing chain reactions which most often spread out in opposite directions.
That being said, I would ask you to consider the following quote:
I love argument, I love debate. I don't expect anyone just to sit there and agree with me, that's not their job. - Margaret Thatcher
Then this one:
I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left. - Margaret Thatcher
I am not going to offer personal thoughts on these quotes.
What I will say is that both should be seriously considered by anyone one jumping into the fray.
The same form the fundamental basis between the goals of simply winning battles vs. actually winning the war.
Look at the way a debate often starts. Something's done or said that's different, or unnatural to what we expect. How often is our first reaction, "Oh no you don't!"
ReplyDeleteUnless it's ridiculously beneficial to us, and at this point we must stop to wonder why someone is offering us this 'beneficial' opportunity, we don't want it. Is our immediate negative response to change a bad thing? I think not. It's a defensive reaction that has often kept us safe. But it's only when we ask questions, LISTEN to and evaluate the answers, and do our own research, that we learn if what we're offered is truly beneficial.
We need to ask questions, accept the responses, and then fine-tune our next questions. But sometimes, we're so determined to plow in only one direction, we don't see that it's not exactly the direction we need to, or want to go.
When we hear a negative response, instead of redirecting our focus in order to continue the argument, we're more willing to crash. That ends the argument and we've lost all chances of winning the battle and the war.
Don't change or give up your on your convictions. But be willing to LISTEN to everything you hear. Just because someone is not agreeing with you, it doesn't absolutely mean they're disagreeing.
Never feel like you're alone in your reasoning. Example: Do you really think only 22% of the registered voters care about what goes on in this town?
When you're heading for a wall, be willing to change your direction. Reevaluate your focus- is what you're arguing for the same as what you want?
Remain determined to keep the debate going.