Dr. Ray L. Winstead
Professor of Biology (retired),
Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Being Civil to Each Other is the Bare Minimum First Step

 

Too many people these days are living sad lives in their "exclusive, little boxes" - defined by others- without even considering other points of view or even willing to talk to people outside their own little box of thinking. The current situation destines that we will be unproductive and not come up with solutions and good approaches to whatever the issue is. For me, this phenomenon these days means that I am becoming more and more less social because of being frustrated around people - REGARDLESS OF THE ISSUE - since so many people are so entrenched in their little boxes on opposing sides of any issue, that a real discussion, or even a debate, on any controversial topic is impossible. I consider myself to be an independent thinker, and I often come up with different conclusions for individual topics (based on what I see as consistent foundations in my own mind) than people living in their little boxes. Yes, I have my own, strong, personal views on different topics, but people conclude that as soon as I express an opinion on one topic, I am lumped together with others in either one box or the other on ALL issues in that box - when that is not the case at all. Furthermore, the concept of Civility these days is an unknown or archaic relic of the past. Actually, being civil to each other is the bare minimum first step to being able to get something actually done with important issues. These days, it seems that expressing different points of view is not allowed and often stimulates an uncivil response - which then ends any progress toward solutions. Furthermore, if anyone thinks this divisive trend is only a characteristic, or due to, the "Other Side,” then I suggest that you yourself also have blinders on with respect to your own "little box." The fact is that “Both Sides” are equally to blame. I feel sad for our country right now.

 



 
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Dr. Ray L. Winstead
rw ( at ) raywinstead ( dot ) com