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Out to Sea

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

I think I might be watching too many political programs on TV. One minute I am encouraged that our country and its people are coming to their senses. The next minute it appears that we have lost all sense of reason and are destined for endless conflict, ultimately ending up on the trash heap of history.

Voices of reason calmly tell us that we can listen to each other, understand one another’s desires, fears and misgivings. Then voices of lunacy suggest that vaccines are responsible for peoples’ death and the medical providers and those who listen to them need to by investigated.

Some resent the world and specifically our government for not providing what they need or want and are ready to destroy our democracy in an act of justified revenge. We seem to have lost the ability to talk with others who do not think exactly as we do.

Rather than working together to understand and provide for each others’ needs, we have turned to blaming each other for our not have our needs met. I have not recently heard the words “common ground” uttered in any public or private conversations.

Social media, which were once seen as a vehicle to bring people together, have largely become a way to promote our grievances toward each other. It is easy to blame others for our not having what we want in our lives. Many people seem to be looking for ways to punish those whom they blame for their misfortune.

Continuing in this vein will not make life better for any of us. After punishing those we blame, none of us will be better off that before. If we want something from others it is necessary to tend to their needs as well.

When we are angry, it is easy to rage at others. You may have noticed that raging at them does not bring you any closer to meeting your real needs although rage may make you feel a little better for the moment.

If you want to move toward cooperating in the best interest of everyone, the best way is to be quiet and listen to what others have to say. Maybe they will have something useful to say. If they go on about how awful some other people are, ask them how they would like their lives to be and how they might find common ground with others to everyone’s benefit. Then at least you have a starting point.