Those three things have booted out the door for quite some time now in this country and elsewhere in the world. It certainly seems as if people with opposing view points have not only no will to discuss in a reasonable, calm fashion their differences and possible solutions, but people are actually further exacerbating the situation by cranking up the volume, increasing the strain, and shooting holes in the ideas of constructive debate and compromise.
I will admit that I have engaged at times (some may argue more than "at times" and perhaps they're right) this polarizing type of "engagement", but I've reached my wits end with it. In the US, it is de rigueur to paint people with an "either you are or you aren't ________" brush. There is no useful and constructive debate and no desire to reach common ground. None. Here in the US, our Congress right now is such that if one party votes "yes", it's almost guaranteed the other party will vote "no", no matter the topic at hand. As a result we have problems festering that have no resolution in sight. Facts are an inconvenience easily omitted, danced around, or simply made up. Critical thought was chucked out of the party bus and left to die. I'm ashamed of any part I've played in that. I can't wait for the return of reason, constructive debate, listening, and compromise.
To see this at work, just listen to the conversation about the Occupy movement any arbitrary person involved in it in any arbitrary city. Listen to how candidates talk in debates and in sound bites to the media. Listen to how the different news outlets couch their views in alleged news "reports". Hell, just go to the Doping sub-forum, or drop in no the "How Many of You Carry a Gun as Part of Your Cycling Equipment" thread. It's toxic. Facts aren't even considered a lot of the time.
Perhaps it's simply the result of a society or societies lacking respect for members of the "wrong" classes in those societies. I'm glad that my wife and I have placed huge emphasis for our daughter on her being respectful of others, no matter whether their views are congruent with hers or not. Apparently she has taken that lesson to heart, or so her teachers and friends' parents say. For that I am proud and happy. We've emphasized that "face value" is of almost no value, and that learning and expression of ideas need to rest solidly on critical thought.
Would that adults and people at large were as grown up as children can be.
I will admit that I have engaged at times (some may argue more than "at times" and perhaps they're right) this polarizing type of "engagement", but I've reached my wits end with it. In the US, it is de rigueur to paint people with an "either you are or you aren't ________" brush. There is no useful and constructive debate and no desire to reach common ground. None. Here in the US, our Congress right now is such that if one party votes "yes", it's almost guaranteed the other party will vote "no", no matter the topic at hand. As a result we have problems festering that have no resolution in sight. Facts are an inconvenience easily omitted, danced around, or simply made up. Critical thought was chucked out of the party bus and left to die. I'm ashamed of any part I've played in that. I can't wait for the return of reason, constructive debate, listening, and compromise.
To see this at work, just listen to the conversation about the Occupy movement any arbitrary person involved in it in any arbitrary city. Listen to how candidates talk in debates and in sound bites to the media. Listen to how the different news outlets couch their views in alleged news "reports". Hell, just go to the Doping sub-forum, or drop in no the "How Many of You Carry a Gun as Part of Your Cycling Equipment" thread. It's toxic. Facts aren't even considered a lot of the time.
Perhaps it's simply the result of a society or societies lacking respect for members of the "wrong" classes in those societies. I'm glad that my wife and I have placed huge emphasis for our daughter on her being respectful of others, no matter whether their views are congruent with hers or not. Apparently she has taken that lesson to heart, or so her teachers and friends' parents say. For that I am proud and happy. We've emphasized that "face value" is of almost no value, and that learning and expression of ideas need to rest solidly on critical thought.
Would that adults and people at large were as grown up as children can be.