Back. The day got away from me so I'll just give the quick and dirty on what I think about this. I might end up arguing with myself so just ignore that part if it happens. I intentionally did NOT read any of the new replies/posts made, especially those made by Schmo. I know he posted and I think Marcus, but I zoomed right past those to say I'd be back.
I do think it's more productive to exercise empathy for voters who, in light of recent rapidly shifting events, have come to regret their vote. Did they get what they voted for? Pretty much yeah, but I suppose they never expected it to affect them. Did Trump BS his way back in? Sure did. Are we in good hands? Not even close. I'll spare readers the whole spiel about how and why I think he operates, as well as who he's beholden to, and why he wanted back in to start with. I think many or most of us know all of that.
The way this society is with the news being so skewed and biased, information being leaked out like a faucet that drips daily, is exhausting and near impossible for the average person to follow which I think is the reason behind it and also greed. Gone are the days where factual news is the norm. News outlets are no longer a public service. They're largely rotten from the top down with corporate greed. So there is that.
Anyway...trying to cut to some kind of chase here. I think it would be important for us to be open to sincerely hearing out the complaints of those closest to us. Keeping the door open so they have a way to come back so to speak. Spouses, family, friends, and co-workers. I'd want them to be able to voice their concerns and regret and partner with them in searching out facts or simply have an open non-cotentious conversation of why we each made our own choices. I know as I'm typing this that it's a big ask that requires patience that might be in short supply right now.
If we shut the door like some of us have, written people off even family members, then what is the profit to us in that?
There just isn't any profit. All it does is maintain the status quo...the stale mate...the perpetual pissing contest. Sort of like the Congress folk who we gave the job of running the country, acting in our collective interest, and who can't seem to stop playing games with power....and us.
I do believe in the ripple effect of the actions of one person. This is going to sound weird but I've been known to change the nature of an entire workplace by simply modeling and starting a ripple, that turned into a wave. I've set the tone more than once in my life. That's not a brag. That's fact.
If we open ourselves to that type of dialogue with folks who have no where to voice their concerns, I fully believe we can make a difference. If your BIL (let's say) comes over and you somehow enter into the discussion and it proves beneficial, who is to say that your BIL won't be open to sharing his concerns with those who voted the way he did and so on and so forth. That's the ripple I'm talking about.
This society is so mangled and messed up. Do we have to be part of that in our relationships? It's not present in my own relationships. I listen to what others have to say without debate. There are days (because I've been incredibly sick for so long) that I shut it down and say "I don't care" and walk away. That's self preservation. But I always tell folks who think (and obviously voted) differently than I did that they have a right to exercise their views through their vote.
Because they do.
I've lost my train of thought...I think that what changes minds isn't debate. It's experience. When, for example, new policies hit home that's the flashpoint in which change happens. I guess what I'm saying (and Fonda was saying) is that we need to be able to give folks a place to go with their shock and disappointment. The tent as she calls it. Some place to land and not leave them wandering around feeling isolated or end up ruminating and doing something crazy and risky.
We don't need folks losing their minds.
We need folks finding their footing again.
Okay...zipping it now.
Disclaimer: I refuse to be held responsible for whatever I said in this post. I don't even remember the beginning of it at this point. Not even close to joking here.
