Having abandoned an absolutist left-wing perspective a few years ago, and then opening my heart to right-wing perspectives, I still identify with the left but find I have much more tolerance now for those on the “other side” than I do for my fellow lefties. I am working on starmanning people with my own prior perspectives just as readily as I will starman a Trump supporter. Honestly though I find it much harder! But both sides deserve an open mind and heart from me.
Indeed. And it is not easy stuff! I have a similarly difficult time having patience for people who believe and behave as I did even just a couple of years ago. I think it's because I see my past self in them and I get frustrated with the idea that I had been so wrong for so long. But I try my best to look in their eyes and see that moment as an opportunity to give them a perspective I would have benefitted from getting sooner. And, of course, I remind myself that I might be the one who's wrong! Just because I changed my mind doesn't mean I'm more correct.
With most of the media, news and information eco chambers people spend time on today this kind of message is so important. It doesn’t seem like the forces creating such division are slowing down either. I imagine technology like the You Tube algorithm only getting better at feeding people what they want, which is probably not an opposing or nuanced viewpoint.
These concepts should be taught in high school. It may sound hyperbolic, but I think these topics could be as important as math for people to internalize in this day and age.
I am so grateful for this resonantly humane and beautifully expressed essay! It and David Brooks's opinion on the election results ("Voters to Elite: Can You See Us Now?") have helped tremendously to calm me. Brooks helped me see that more than half my fellow citizens were not, in fact, morons but rather people with feelings I could understand and sympathize with, even if I didn't share them; and your essay--coming at a time when many of my friends are wondering what can now give their lives meaning--answers with a noble and necessary purpose for good-hearted and well-meaning Americans.
Thanks very much for reading! It’s understandable for people to feel all the ways they’re feeling. But if we want to move forward in a way that is productive we need to be honest about the ways we have been misunderstanding one another. Hopefully this will help.
Having abandoned an absolutist left-wing perspective a few years ago, and then opening my heart to right-wing perspectives, I still identify with the left but find I have much more tolerance now for those on the “other side” than I do for my fellow lefties. I am working on starmanning people with my own prior perspectives just as readily as I will starman a Trump supporter. Honestly though I find it much harder! But both sides deserve an open mind and heart from me.
Indeed. And it is not easy stuff! I have a similarly difficult time having patience for people who believe and behave as I did even just a couple of years ago. I think it's because I see my past self in them and I get frustrated with the idea that I had been so wrong for so long. But I try my best to look in their eyes and see that moment as an opportunity to give them a perspective I would have benefitted from getting sooner. And, of course, I remind myself that I might be the one who's wrong! Just because I changed my mind doesn't mean I'm more correct.
So timely…thank you!
Thank you for reading. It is difficult stuff, but it is critical if we want to actually solve our issues and move forward.
I love this essay, and I will remember the bird, which needs both wings, forever more!
Thank you for reading!
Good advice, but the early evidence is that many have no intention of following it!
Don’t be one of them!
With most of the media, news and information eco chambers people spend time on today this kind of message is so important. It doesn’t seem like the forces creating such division are slowing down either. I imagine technology like the You Tube algorithm only getting better at feeding people what they want, which is probably not an opposing or nuanced viewpoint.
These concepts should be taught in high school. It may sound hyperbolic, but I think these topics could be as important as math for people to internalize in this day and age.
I am so grateful for this resonantly humane and beautifully expressed essay! It and David Brooks's opinion on the election results ("Voters to Elite: Can You See Us Now?") have helped tremendously to calm me. Brooks helped me see that more than half my fellow citizens were not, in fact, morons but rather people with feelings I could understand and sympathize with, even if I didn't share them; and your essay--coming at a time when many of my friends are wondering what can now give their lives meaning--answers with a noble and necessary purpose for good-hearted and well-meaning Americans.
Thanks very much for reading! It’s understandable for people to feel all the ways they’re feeling. But if we want to move forward in a way that is productive we need to be honest about the ways we have been misunderstanding one another. Hopefully this will help.
6. Dismantle the Censorship-Industrial-NGO complex
7. End the forever wars
8. End the Fed
9. Be honest with Americans and tell them we need to reform SS and Medicare
10. etc.