Can't We All Just Get Along?
by JLSpinner
In a time when the political divide has become almost uncrossable, and the impersonal conversation through text has become standard, it has never been more important for us to learn how to truly listen to each other. It's easy to debate through tinted glasses, searching for flaws or examples to prove superfluous. It's easy to stand high and laugh at everyone else and their flawed views and logic. It's not easy to sit down and think about what they are saying. To consider their point against your own or against those of others. Why is it so hard for us to open ourselves to foreign concepts or ideas? Why can't we consider the benefits? Or find similarities? What are we afraid of?
Are we insecure in our appearance if we don't win the debate? Are we afraid to be seen as weak? As merely human? Perhaps it's change that we fear. Maybe we are worried that all of our efforts may have been in vain. Maybe we can't allow the chance to be proven wrong out of pride or spite. Is this the best way for us to communicate? Can we continue to advance as a society if our ability to comprehend and understand degrades any further?
These defenses that we have placed also act as a prison. A prison that keeps us uncaring and hostile. We have locked away our ability to open up to others. To truly listen and understand what is being said to us. Instead we try to tear it down or try to manipulate it into something less intelligent. We have been cut off from our connection with our brothers and sisters. We are alone in a big world.
We have to learn to step out from behind the walls of our safety and comfort. We have to learn to remove bias and assumptions. We need to listen, not with our thoughts and emotions, with the thoughts and emotions of the one you are talking with. Wear their shoes. Ponder their experiences. What are they trying to say? If we can figure out how to think past ourselves and our beliefs we can open ourselves up to a much larger world. Just outside of our grasp exists ideas we have never even considered or heard of.
I challenge ourselves to pause and consider the words being said to us. Whether it is on the forums, or in a text message, or at work. Slow down the reaction and weigh the intentions and the meanings. If you aren't sure what they mean, ask them. Don't assume. Remove the bias of our own wisdom and instead try to use theirs. Much like we view myth, we should view all communication. Try to decipher the true intention and try to see what inspired the thoughts. Don't be afraid to be wrong. The lessons we learn in life make us who we are.
May the Force be with us all.
