Ergo...

It occurred to me, after yesterday's post, that I spend a fair amount of time criticizing this or that and rarely offer much more than a few words of solution.

Ergo (a fancy word for therefore...), I thought I'd try to be more helpful and less whiney (complainy...?)

I think that the solution to most of our problems is in the way that we communicate with one another. Often we don't listen, intent on making our point and prevailing in the argument.

When we are disagree with one another we tend to get louder in an attempt to empower our point of view, somehow by volume rather than by merit.

And the concept of respect is often not a part of any discussion.  We think that if someone disagrees with us than they are "less than" and, therefore (a common variety of the word "ergo" which is Latin for "therefore"...) not worthy of our respect.

If we could actually slow down long enough to, in fact, hear what the other guy is saying then we just might get some valuable information.

Some people think that you have to have a position on an issue and never change your mind.

I disagree.  I admire those who, after careful evaluation of the evidence at hand, are able to amend their point of view and conclude in a different way.

Before the discovery of the New World, conventional wisdom was that the Earth was flat.  If you sailed toward the horizon you would, eventually, fall off into an abyss full of monsters and fire.

A few brave souls ventured forth any way and, lo and behold, came back from the opposite direction.
They hadn't disappeared into the void, as many had feared, but had circumnavigated the globe and proven that the world was not flat (my apologies to Tom Friedman here, whom I greatly admire and aspire to be more like...) but round instead.

Previously held beliefs, convictions solidly felt by their owners, were shown to be faulty and required a second, fresh look.

If we could allow for the possibility that what we think, what we believe, could possibly have a different interpretation, then we could be open to new information that just might change our minds.

And imagine what it would be like if two people decided to enter a discussion with that openness.
Worlds would definitely collide.  Black and white would become gray and solutions would be found.

Love and respect and openness to possibility are all the elements needed in solving the world's problems.  If I greet you with kindness, and deference and willingness then you will be disarmed and available for me to persuade.  And if I am open to your point of view then I might be persuaded as well.  We just might find the solution that had , theretofore, eluded us both.  Two heads might be much better than one.

I think this concept is what is sorely lacking in out national discourse (uh oh...complaining again...)

Our leaders stake out positions and are unwilling to listen.  They think they are right and the other guy is an idiot. "America...Love it or Leave it!"

So that's what I think will help.  Less yelling and more listening.  Less vitriol and more harmony.  Less Latin and more cookies.

Let the schmoozing begin!