Can something so basic transform lives and communities? YES!
Author: Esther Sarlo, BA, Founder | CEO | Myndful Spark of Mynd Myself
A friend recently sent me a fortyish-minute YouTube video of a current politician bowing out of the upcoming United States’ Presidential Race. Now, I normally don’t discuss politics here. It’s too ‘fraught’…and I’m not, by any means, an expert in the political scene in my own country of Canada and even less so for the United States. However, as I’ve watched events unfold around the world over the last while, I have to admit, I’ve become decidedly troubled.
What has happened to open public discourse? What has become of working together with those who have different points of view? What do we do about the increasingly deep chasm separating ‘the right’ and ‘the left?’ What is happening to our ability to listen to each other…even when we disagree?
I have been theorizing, over the past few years in particular, that there’s been an intentional effort to create rifts between us. To divide us. To create chaos and confusion.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to live that way. I prefer open debate, the public expression of divergent opinions so we can make up our own minds, and then rolling-up-our sleeves to work things out…together.
Get Ready for It!
REALLY! I don’t care what your political views are…It doesn’t matter which side of the aisle you lean toward. No matter your political affiliation or positions, I invite you to listen to the following excerpt of RFK Jr. suspending his campaign and endorsing Donald Trump: LINK.
I have to say, I was shocked. Personally, I have not been a fan of Trump. I have also not been a fan of Biden. However, I am a fan of your right to your opinion…whatever that may be.
I invite you to be open-minded enough to hear what is being said, despite your genuine apprehensions, suspicions, distrust, dismay, cynicism, skepticism, etc.
“Respect is one of the greatest expressions of love.” ~ Miguel Angel Ruiz
A Few Quotes:
And in case you choose not to listen to the speech, RFK Jr. made a number of potent points, a few of which I believe are worth noting for the purposes of this conversation:
- RFK Jr. and Trump “talked about Abraham Lincoln’s ‘team of rivals.’ That arrangement would allow us to disagree publicly and privately and fiercely, if need be, on issues over which we differ, and also work together on the existential issues upon which we are in concordance.
I was a ferocious critic of many of the policies during [Trump’s] first administration, and there are still issues and approaches upon which we continue to have very serious differences. But we are aligned with each other on other key issues, like ending of forever wars, ending the childhood disease epidemics, securing the border, protecting freedom of speech, unraveling the corporate capture of our regulatory agencies, and getting the U.S. intelligence agencies out of the business of propagandizing and censoring and surveilling Americans and interfering with our elections.
Following my first discussion with President Trump, I tried unsuccessfully to open similar discussions with Vice President Harris. Vice President Harris declined to meet or even to speak with me.” - “Today we [the US] spend more on healthcare than any country on Earth, twice what they pay in Europe. And yet we have the worst health outcomes of any nation in the world. We’re about 79th in health outcomes, behind Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mongolia, and other countries. Nobody has a chronic disease burden like we have.” And he went on to quote many other horrifying US health statistics from the CDC.
- “Ultimately, the only thing that will save our country and our children is if we choose to love our kids more than we hate each other.“
- “Instead of vitriol and polarization, I will appeal to the values and goals that we could achieve if only we weren’t at each other’s throats. The most unifying theme for all Americans is that we all love our children. If we all unite around that issue now, we can finally give them the protection, the health, and the future that they deserve.”
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” ~ Aesop
What Do You REALLY Believe…and Prioritize?
If you didn’t know who’d said those above quotes, can you honestly say, in your heart of hearts, that you disagree with them, or that you can’t support those ideas of collaborative discussions on any topic, respectful and vigorous disagreement, and putting the health of children first? If so, you are certainly on a different page than me…and I am in no way, sharing a particular political affiliation here.
How has mutual respect disappeared…along with an underpinning of kindness. When did we, as a society, lose the will to TALK to each other, to respectfully verbally tussle with each other to come to a place of service? How is this for the greater good of people everywhere? What are those topics that we’re ‘not supposed to bring up’ at dinner parties: politics, religion, and finances? And the list has continued to grow to include: COVID, vaccines, gender, education, and healthcare.
I believe we should be encouraged to talk about ALL OF THAT and more. If we are afraid to bring things from the dark and into the light, how will we grow? If we are afraid to talk about anything that might be contentious or controversial, how will we learn? If we continue to simply reinforce our own positions and beliefs without considering the ‘other side,’ how will we learn to be kind, respectful, and compassionate?
I do not believe we have to devolve to the “I’m Right and You’re an Idiot” state of being, as James Hogan so powerfully shares when he discusses “the toxic state of public discourse and how to clean it up.”
Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin (1804-1876), an important writer and early feminist who wrote under the male pen name, George Sand said,
“Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation,
how to lose without regret,
how to acquire without meanness.”
It’s OUR Choice
We can decide to be respectful and kind. The skill of ‘agreeing to disagree’ is vitally important…now more than ever. We can choose to engage in difficult topics and listen to each other. We can choose to suspend our judgements and our verdicts to listen to another’s point of view. We can choose to be respectful and kind…and to ourselves first. That’s the foundation from which we can be strong enough to stand in the face of a different opinion. And, horror of horrors, perhaps be willing to change our opinion on a dearly held position that might no longer be valid.
“One of the most sincere forms of respect
is actually listening to what another has to say.” ~ Bryant H. McGill
What powerful healing and forward motion could we achieve if we extricate ourselves from this ‘organized polarity’ that has been so skillfully and powerfully woven around us?
Are you brave enough to be kind and respectful? We WILL make mistakes but, as Henry Ford said,
“Even a mistake may turn out to be the one thing necessary to a worthwhile achievement.”
Are the choices you’re making ones you’re proud of…and ones that serve all humanity…with kindness and respect?
What ripples are you creating? Remember…
“Attitude is a choice.
Happiness is a choice.
Optimism is a choice.
Kindness is a choice.
Giving is a choice.
Respect is a choice.
Whatever choice you make makes you.
Choose wisely.”
~ Roy T. Bennett
