Dear editor:
The poor are simply lazy, rich folks care only for themselves. All conservatives are racists and liberals are so naive that they have no capacity for rational thought.
Environmentalists want to stop all growth and take society back to the Stone Age. Developers have no concern for the effects of their projects on the environment or the local population. Men are all sexual predators and women think men have little to no redeeming qualities. There are certainly a few groups that I have failed to insult here, but you will just have to get over it.
This is what passes for “social discourse” in America today. Almost no opinion or suggested solution to a problem cannot be mangled into something that is unrecognizable to the original author. The new version then becomes the narrative of the opposition and is used to instigate a barrage of insults back and forth until no common ground can be found. It is no wonder that we find ourselves in an increasingly polarized state where solutions are few and far between.
Political solutions to our problems have never been simple. Even the Founding Fathers argued over the necessity of a Declaration of Independence. John Dickinson, a delegate to the Continental Congress, refused to sign the final document. It is quite possible that if George Washington had not agreed to serve as the President of the Constitutional Convention that the United States might never have survived its infancy. Somehow, thankfully, they worked through their differences and the experiment of “self-government” continues today.
While a particular group can at one time or another beat their opponents into submission, it is usually only temporary and the eventual pushback will be equally as vicious if not more. The more lasting solutions to any problem come from consensus. Here are some suggestions to begin the process of moving towards a society that seeks success rather than victory. Avoid the instinct to take the bait that vulgar slurs are intended to be.
Even the cleverest of retorts is not likely to have any meaningful effect and those who advocate violence are not likely to listen to reason. They are beyond that. Resist the impulse to immediately dismiss someone’s opinion on how to address an important and/or complicated topic. There is a wide gulf between thought and policy. It’s the details that matter. Recognize suggestions that are not complete and look for something that aligns with your position, even a little.
Usually, there is and it provides a starting place for some level of consensus. We can all benefit by taking a breath before responding to something that we disagree with, especially at the emotional level. Call out individuals for specific acts, but avoid generalizing. It misses the mark.
The last few decades have seen an increasing lack of willingness to compromise. If you disagree with someone, it is easier to cast crude insults rather than to thoughtfully examine what has been said and consider whether there is something to agree on. Not only is this not helpful, but it is also lazy, much like swearing. Cursing is commonplace in many occupations. This was the environment I found myself in my profession.
In the early part of my career as a Paramedic, my shift leader constantly challenged us to “find different adjectives” to express ourselves. That lesson has stuck with me and I continue to apply it to my daily interactions and what drives me to write this. Initial reactions are often hard-wired into or brains. It is how we choose to act afterward that reveals our true character and that is what we pass along to our children.
Vincent McGregor, Jr. Greensboro