I just got home from a wonderful grill-out with family, some of whom I have not seen in almost 5 years, many of them that--I am sad to say--I don't know real well. I always hesitate talking politics with...well, almost anyone. With people that I respect because I am afraid that I will come off as unintelligent or uninformed and with those who I know have different values than I do, because I am afraid that when engaged in a conversation about values, I will disintegrate into defensiveness.
Neither one of these fears came true tonight as we carefully danced around the issue of politics, trying to identify the political beliefs of those around us. We are a pretty diverse group-- including a well-known, retired physician, college students, a stay-at-home mom, several small business owners, a couple dairy farmers, a cardiologist and two veterinarians--so we are sure to disagree on at least a few issues.
Our conversations did not run too deep or get too political. We wanted to enjoy a little long-overdue family time. However, it got me to thinking:
How do you disagree with someone about politics? How do you talk politics with family and friends? I think it's important to have these conversations and it's important to have mature conversations. Enough with the ridiculous facebook posts or silly little bumper stickers and signs. Let's be adults. Let's do some research. Let's look at the facts honestly.
We need to have intelligent discourse.
And how do we do that? Learn the facts. Then, and only then, can we have intelligent discourse on the issues.
This doesn't mean that once we have all the facts we will necessarily see things this way or that way, but it will give us a foundation to make our own judgement based on truth.
"It is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence".
-William K. Clifford
Happy researching!
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