Blog
Prove Me Wrong!
What is happening to us as a people? Why have we become afraid to discuss issues, to listen to opposing points of views, to recognize the possibility that we may be wrong? The rude and reprehensible conduct of Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) during President Obama’s speech this week is not the exception but, rather, the norm. One only has to look back at this Summer’s town hall fiascos to know that we, as a society, have a significant and growing problem. Too many of us have lost the desire to learn or, alternatively, have developed a fear of being wrong and shout down opposing voices rather than to listen and argue.
Why this lack of civility? Why this lack of simple common courtesy? Why this lack of curiosity as to why someone might hold a position contrary to ours? The basic tenet for any civilized society is for the people to be able to make informed decisions on the issues. This means learning the positions of candidates that are important to the voters. This means learning about the issues and developing at least a basic knowledge of the facts.
Unfortunately too many of us are choosing to turn our backs on this basic tenet. We refuse to listen to anyone who has a contrary opinion rather than taking the opportunity to learn and to teach. Years ago, I held the opinion that guns were universally bad and that they should be banned, except for use by the police and the military. I then began working with a guy who held the exact opposite opinion and who, in fact, would have everyone carrying concealed weapons if it was up to him. Both Tom and I love to argue and over the course of a couple of years, he won the argument. His arguments, given with a combination of intelligence and humor, caused me to reevaluate my opinion on the issue. While I’m still not quite as extreme as he, I have changed my view on guns and gun control.
The fact that I was able to change my opinion is not a source of embarrassment for me nor do I consider it a sign of intellectual or moral deficiency. In fact, I take great pride in my ability to consider an opposing point of view, to re-consider my own point of view and to develop a new position based upon newly discovered facts and arguments. That I could argue my position and then change my mind, I believe, shows that I still have the capacity to learn and develop. Unfortunately, my pride is generally misplaced in today’s society.
One need only listen to a few minutes of Rush, Michael Savage and their ilk to know that there is only one truth, only one correct side to any argument, only one answer. How sad is that? For a nation built on diversity, how can any of us truly believe that there is only one side to a coin? Liberals are not always wrong and neither are Conservatives. Why then can’t we have honest and open debates on issues rather than resorting to shouts, to lies and to haranguing the President? Could it be that what we are most afraid of is being wrong? Could it be that we are so morally weak that we would rather be wrong with the majority than right with the minority?
If I were to guess I’d say that this disease is one with many causes. We’ve lived in an era of soundbites for years but it has gotten worse. Rather than just a blurb on the evening news, now we have texting and tweeting and people are seeing and hearing the news only on a very superficial level. Former Gov. Palin starts talking about death panels and millions of people automatically believe her without doing any checking. We’re so busy keeping in contact with our Facebook friends that we fail to have meaningful conversations with our friends and families. People believe that talk show hosts are newsman rather than just political entertainers.
Another cause may be that we might just be losing our thirst for knowledge. It is much easier to listen to someone that will confirm our beliefs than to someone who will challenge them. While I am not a religious man, I treasure my relationship with a friend who happens to be a minister. We debate the existence of God and trade books on various religious topics. He has yet to convert me or I to convince him but we have both enjoyed the healthy debate. By learning the strengths and weaknesses of the other side’s position, we have both been able to develop a deeper and more intelligent belief in our own. I don’t begrudge him disagreeing with me. In fact, I relish the fact that I can have intelligent conversations with someone who doesn’t, and likely never will, agree with me. We respect each other’s intelligence and beliefs. The fact that we both believe the other to be wrong doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. Although I would never admit it to him, he might just be right.
This is not just an American problem. Radical extremists throughout the world know that they can’t prevail through intelligent discourse so they resort to terrorism and oppression. Radical extremists won’t allow public discourse of issues and, sadly, many in our own society have adopted this strategy. An open mind is not a symptom of weakness. An open mind doesn’t mean that you will vacillate or that you will always be changing your mind. An open mind means accepting the fact that you may be wrong and that fact is incredibly refreshing and liberating. I know I am not always right and take great comfort in the fact that I don’t need to be. There is always time to learn. So prove me wrong!
Why this lack of civility? Why this lack of simple common courtesy? Why this lack of curiosity as to why someone might hold a position contrary to ours? The basic tenet for any civilized society is for the people to be able to make informed decisions on the issues. This means learning the positions of candidates that are important to the voters. This means learning about the issues and developing at least a basic knowledge of the facts.
Unfortunately too many of us are choosing to turn our backs on this basic tenet. We refuse to listen to anyone who has a contrary opinion rather than taking the opportunity to learn and to teach. Years ago, I held the opinion that guns were universally bad and that they should be banned, except for use by the police and the military. I then began working with a guy who held the exact opposite opinion and who, in fact, would have everyone carrying concealed weapons if it was up to him. Both Tom and I love to argue and over the course of a couple of years, he won the argument. His arguments, given with a combination of intelligence and humor, caused me to reevaluate my opinion on the issue. While I’m still not quite as extreme as he, I have changed my view on guns and gun control.
The fact that I was able to change my opinion is not a source of embarrassment for me nor do I consider it a sign of intellectual or moral deficiency. In fact, I take great pride in my ability to consider an opposing point of view, to re-consider my own point of view and to develop a new position based upon newly discovered facts and arguments. That I could argue my position and then change my mind, I believe, shows that I still have the capacity to learn and develop. Unfortunately, my pride is generally misplaced in today’s society.
One need only listen to a few minutes of Rush, Michael Savage and their ilk to know that there is only one truth, only one correct side to any argument, only one answer. How sad is that? For a nation built on diversity, how can any of us truly believe that there is only one side to a coin? Liberals are not always wrong and neither are Conservatives. Why then can’t we have honest and open debates on issues rather than resorting to shouts, to lies and to haranguing the President? Could it be that what we are most afraid of is being wrong? Could it be that we are so morally weak that we would rather be wrong with the majority than right with the minority?
If I were to guess I’d say that this disease is one with many causes. We’ve lived in an era of soundbites for years but it has gotten worse. Rather than just a blurb on the evening news, now we have texting and tweeting and people are seeing and hearing the news only on a very superficial level. Former Gov. Palin starts talking about death panels and millions of people automatically believe her without doing any checking. We’re so busy keeping in contact with our Facebook friends that we fail to have meaningful conversations with our friends and families. People believe that talk show hosts are newsman rather than just political entertainers.
Another cause may be that we might just be losing our thirst for knowledge. It is much easier to listen to someone that will confirm our beliefs than to someone who will challenge them. While I am not a religious man, I treasure my relationship with a friend who happens to be a minister. We debate the existence of God and trade books on various religious topics. He has yet to convert me or I to convince him but we have both enjoyed the healthy debate. By learning the strengths and weaknesses of the other side’s position, we have both been able to develop a deeper and more intelligent belief in our own. I don’t begrudge him disagreeing with me. In fact, I relish the fact that I can have intelligent conversations with someone who doesn’t, and likely never will, agree with me. We respect each other’s intelligence and beliefs. The fact that we both believe the other to be wrong doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. Although I would never admit it to him, he might just be right.
This is not just an American problem. Radical extremists throughout the world know that they can’t prevail through intelligent discourse so they resort to terrorism and oppression. Radical extremists won’t allow public discourse of issues and, sadly, many in our own society have adopted this strategy. An open mind is not a symptom of weakness. An open mind doesn’t mean that you will vacillate or that you will always be changing your mind. An open mind means accepting the fact that you may be wrong and that fact is incredibly refreshing and liberating. I know I am not always right and take great comfort in the fact that I don’t need to be. There is always time to learn. So prove me wrong!