Rationality
We have a significant problem in this country with maintaining our rationality. Specifically, we are losing the ability to have rational discussions on topics we disagree on. We no longer “agree to disagree” and part peacefully. It is rare to have what I refer to as “grown up, adult” discussion about controversial topics without someone getting upset, raising their voice, and making outlandish accusations against the person who disagrees with them. Everything is an extreme; we no longer meet in the middle.
Our leadership doesn’t do it. Every issue is a partisan issue and it is argued with venom in the House, the Senate, the White House, and even in the Supreme Court. Those arguments spill over to what is no longer reliable media. Media has turned partisan as well and they are being utilized, or possibly working in concert with, our national level leaders to get their very partisan messages out.
Celebrities don’t do it. This one continues to baffle me. Athletes, actors, people who are famous for no reason beyond being famous, they all do it. Many pick a side and use their “platforms” to influence the conversation. Many of them are uninformed, ill-informed, or flat out are following the crowd when they profess their opinion. While they use their platforms (social media, media interviews, etc.) to voice their opinion, it is often divisive and demanding in its messaging. No offense to the former President, but his use of Twitter is a prime example of what not to do. You could say the same about any athlete who voices their opinion about how difficult their life is while sitting in a $50 million mansion. Or the musician who glamourizes being in a gang or being a pimp or selling drugs. Let’s be realistic; these people are of no more or less value than any other American. Their vote counts no more than yours or mine, but they have a voice and unfortunately people listen to them as if they are experts.
No one would consider me a celebrity but before you call me a hypocrite, admittedly, that’s what you could call this very blog; my “platform”. While I have my opinions on even the most controversial topics, anyone who really knows me will tell you that in most cases (I am not perfect) I keep a rational head and can have a grown up discussion about most topics. I also don’t hate someone solely because I disagree with them. I have made mistakes in the past and even in a rash decision have cut people out because I no longer want to listen to them. Probably not the best decision, but again, I’m not perfect.
As a nation, though, we are drowning because we cannot remain rational and come to a solution as a nation. Right now, we are countless different interest groups, the one who yells loudest gets the most press, and if you disagree with them you are immediately branded as (insert offensive adjective here).
When I was in Afghanistan, an interpreter who lived in California but volunteered to go back to his native country, outlined one of the most difficult things for Afghans to overcome as that country struggled to recover from decades of war. He said that culturally, Afghans prioritized who they were in this order; Family, Tribe, Religion, then Nationality. Many of those things were determined or evident by what region they came from and what language they spoke. There were about a half dozen things that divided them before they would ever come together as one nation known as Afghanistan.
That conversation back in 2010 has stuck with me as I watch this country divide itself. It may not be on the same lines or priorities as the Afghans, but we can all see the lines being drawn that continue to divide us.
We need to get back to those adult, grown up conversations. We need to be able to speak to each other and resolve issues without devolving to calling names or hating someone because of their opinion.
We need to get back to Rationality.