What happened to openness?
September 4th, 2009 | 
Author: There is currently a huge uproar over President Obama addressing the nation’s students on September 8th. It seems to me most of the concern is spilling over from people’s concerns, fears, or other feelings about the state and future of healthcare in the country.
I am not wanting to get into the healthcare debate here. That would be pointless. It seems everyone’s minds are made up one way or the other. No, my concern is what happened the civility and openness of debate and education.
Civility. Gone. Name-calling abounds with blatant lies about the other side both personally and positionally. This helps no one. In fact, it is a detriment to both sides’ positions. The likelihood of any side getting anything they want becomes less with every lie and incivility uttered. When did working together towards a needed goal become unpatriotic or anathema? I have no solutions, just disgust.
As for Obama’s address, my concerns are for education. It has always seemed to me that students were exposed to various ideas, thoughts, cultures, & paradigms during their education from teachers, students, workers, and whoever else they met along the way. The PARENTS then helped the students filter the information. If the parents were unwilling to expose their children to the outside world and potentially disagreeable positions, they would enroll them in private and/or parochial schools. If they have problems with an idea, simply removing the child from the situation will do nothing but make sure their ability to cope will never develop. “Stick your head in the sand” became an adage for a reason.
Again, I have no solutions except to maybe pull the sticks out. Of the butts.
I am not venting to get anyone to change their position about any subject. I just want everyone to shut up. Truly shut up and listen. Don’t propagate blatant lies. Especially refrain from personal attacks. Your mind may, and probably, not change, but a greater understanding can only help.
Civilization. It seems we are leaving it.
Posted in One Response to “What happened to openness?”
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It sure does seem that way, doesn’t it? We claim to be a civil country, and we have a woman asking a Jewish government official why he openly supports a Nazi policy? People aren’t even thinking. Just letting the reactions get the best of them.
Well said sir. Keep sayin’ it.