I miss the days when you could hear people actively engage in conversation from opposing viewpoints without it devolving into hostilities or vitriol. I really appreciate how in our Lodges we can manage to hold space for this in many cases enabling challenging conversations to result in deeper understanding if not agreement of each others perspectives and opinions.
Great post and I agree, if we fail to support and promote the values and tenets this Republic was founded on and truly offer the right to free speech, religion, and individual rights and support others rights to the same, whether they meet our own or not, it will be lost.
I look forward to more discussions that result in solutions to problems that affect us all. Focusing on the things that can meaningfully improve our communities and our lives.
When I joined the service we took an oath to uphold and defend the constitution and right for individuals rights and beliefs, whether we agreed with them or not. I think far too many of us have forgotten the lost art of agreeing to disagree.
Ultimately, who cares what beliefs another person holds, as long as they are a decent human being who positively contributes to their community.
I find it fascinating that we would consider isolating ourselves from new possibilities when new information might exist that could allow us to better understand our fellow man, or perhaps experience the world from a new perspective. The act of considering information does not obligate an individual to adopt it or agree with it, yet it seems at times we act as if it might.
“The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities.” - Ayn Rand
I appreciate your advocacy for the individual MWB Bailey.
I miss the days when you could hear people actively engage in conversation from opposing viewpoints without it devolving into hostilities or vitriol. I really appreciate how in our Lodges we can manage to hold space for this in many cases enabling challenging conversations to result in deeper understanding if not agreement of each others perspectives and opinions.
Great post and I agree, if we fail to support and promote the values and tenets this Republic was founded on and truly offer the right to free speech, religion, and individual rights and support others rights to the same, whether they meet our own or not, it will be lost.
I look forward to more discussions that result in solutions to problems that affect us all. Focusing on the things that can meaningfully improve our communities and our lives.
It seems that today things are rapidly becoming:
'Free Speech for me, not for thee.'
(Any issue will fit there.)
Without people apparently realizing that taking a right away from one eventually removes that right from all.
When I joined the service we took an oath to uphold and defend the constitution and right for individuals rights and beliefs, whether we agreed with them or not. I think far too many of us have forgotten the lost art of agreeing to disagree.
Ultimately, who cares what beliefs another person holds, as long as they are a decent human being who positively contributes to their community.
I find it fascinating that we would consider isolating ourselves from new possibilities when new information might exist that could allow us to better understand our fellow man, or perhaps experience the world from a new perspective. The act of considering information does not obligate an individual to adopt it or agree with it, yet it seems at times we act as if it might.
“The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities.” - Ayn Rand
I appreciate your advocacy for the individual MWB Bailey.