Civil Discourse is Vital to Preserve a Nation of Liberty
You never wake someone up by screaming "FIRE". Instead, gently nudge them until they wake, giving them time to wipe the sleep from their eyes.
With school board elections1 just around the corner, [May 9, 2023] it is critical that we engage in meaningful civil discourse with our neighbors, co-workers, family & friends. This can be achieved by speaking of the values of which we share.
I have yet to meet a person who does not wish to see children reach their full potential. While there may be disagreements on how that can be achieved, I have always found agreement in that our schools are failing our children.2
There has been no question of our schools being in an academic freefall. It is just that many people have been blindsided by ignorance.
Delaware Average Student proficiency during the 2021-2022 school year:
42.36% English language arts (ELA)
29.48% Math
87.02% Graduation Rate
Having these productive conversations is essential to preserve a nation of a free & informed people. It was those said conversations, at a time where opposition to the crown meant imprisonment or death, which lay ground to the principals of Liberty & Freedom based upon individual God Given rights. In the end, logic will prevail.
November 30, 2020 | Herald-Tribune
Frank Sinatra; The House I Live In (That's America to Me), 19464
The film was made as a PSA to oppose anti-Semitism and racial prejudice at the end of World War II. It became a patriotic American anthem, which emphasizes that we are all Americans and that just one American's blood is as good as another.
Lyrics5
Below is an article which discusses the importance of using shared values as a platform to engage in “politically charged” conversation while maintaining civility and respect for one another.
Discussing Politics at Work
There has always been an unspoken rule of "do not discuss politics at work". I completely disagree. While it can be a difficult conversation to navigate, there is a path, if someone is willing to listen. It requires being observant and personable. With any rational person, there is always common ground to be had. That being said, you will find some people are just not capable of holding a rational conversation.
Whenever the opportunity presents itself, take the time to say hello and make small talk. So many people are immersed in their social media and their work that they sometimes forget to just be human. Something as simple as a comment on the weather can lead to a quick discourse about weekend plans with the family. The next time you see that person you could follow up with "How was camping?" Simple small talk establishes a mutual respect, which is the foundation necessary to have politically charged conversations at the workplace. I also feel that it lends to a better quality of life in general.
One coworker in particular would occasionally mention something that would be in the headlines, be it the newest BLM rallying cry or something that then President Trump may have said or did. Since I was actively following the current events occurring at that time from various sources, I felt confident enough to engage in discord. I would listen to what he would have to say, then I would mention why I disagreed. Many times it was as simple as "let's not rush to judgment, and let all the facts play out". Other times it was a matter of showing full context. Most of the time it was showing what is intentionally not shown that can have the biggest impact, as such is the case with David Dorn.
This work colleague is excellent in his field of work. The fact that he took the time to show me ways to improve tells a lot about his character. However, he was one of the many who believed the unscrupulous propaganda being spread in the news, without question.
One day he came into work with a limp. He had been playing basketball with his son late at night, and refused to go easy on him. This is where I hit him with it. "You don't realize it yet, but you're a conservative". There was no response, unsure if he should feel insulted or curious.
I said to him "You are a hard working, family orientated, man of integrity. You worked hard to get to where you are today. Your word holds value. You go home after a hard day's work, lay on the floor, and play Peppa Pig with your daughter. Then, you go outside and practice some basketball with your son. You don't go easy on him, because no one else will. You teach him that nothing comes easy. That you get out of life what you put into it. It takes hard work, practice, and determination. You are a proud father, and we need more fathers like you! Those are all conservative values."
It's inspiring how just being personable can allow for productive conversation. When there exists mutual respect, a foundation is set, which can be build upon. While we may speak assertively, it in no way constitutes an argument, nor should it.
One issue, in which I have yet to find someone who truly disagrees with me, is the issue of abortion. Former NY Governor Cuomo celebrated signing the Reproductive Health Act of 2019 by lighting the Empire State building in pink. The act permits an abortion to the moment of birth. I haven't found anyone who agrees with this. If I did, I would recommend that they watch the documentary Gosnel: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer.
These are the key points that I've learned over the years:
Never insult a person based on their views;
Find common values as a foundation to build upon;
Be educated and articulate;
Be willing to truly listen to opposing views; and
Know when to walk away
You never wake someone up by screaming "FIRE". Instead, gently nudge them until they wake, giving them time to wipe the sleep from their eyes.
There has never been an easier, more prevalent time in recent history to show someone the truth about the world than there is now. Once you plant the seed of free thought, it will grow all on it's own.
There is unanimity among multiple studies attesting to an epidemic of ignorance among American citizens. The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation found that 60% pf respondents did not know whom the United States fought in World War II, and only 24% knew why the colonists fought the British.
A Xavier University study found that 85% of Americans did not know the meaning of the “rule of law” and 68% did not know how many justices sit on the Supreme Court.
The Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania found that only 26% of respondents could name the three branches of government, 37% could not name the rights guaranteed by the first amendment, and 53% thought illegal immigrants had no rights under the U.S. Constitution.
Frank Sinatra, apparently playing himself, takes a "smoke" break from a recording session. He sees more than 10 boys chasing a Jewish boy and intervenes, first with dialogue; then with a little speech. His main points are that we are "all" Americans and that just one American's blood is as good as another, all our religions are equally to be respected. (The film was made to oppose anti-Semitism and racial prejudice at the end of World War II.) Sinatra sings two songs : "If you are but a dream" (words and music by Moe Jaffe, Jack Fulton, Nat Bonx; melody based on Anton Rubinstein's "Romance in E flat, Op. 44, No. 1," popularly known as "Rubenstein's Romance") and "The house I live in" (music by Earl Robinson, lyrics by Lewis Allan). "Frank Sinatra in brotherhood musical short from 1945 written by Albert Maltz, later blacklisted as leftist RKO Academy Award winner"--Summary from J. Fred MacDonald and Associates film inventory.
What is America to me
A name, a map, or a flag I see
A certain word, democracy
What is America to me
The house I live in
A plot of earth, the street
The grocer and the butcher
Or the people that I meet
The children in the playground
The faces that I see
All races and religions
That's America to me
The place I work in
The worker by my side
The little town the city
Where my people lived and died
The howdy and the handshake
The air a feeling free
And the right to speak your mind out
That's America to me
The things I see about me
The big things and the small
That little corner newsstand
Or the house a mile tall
The wedding and the churchyard
The laughter and the tears
The dream that's been a growing
For more than two hundred years
The town I live in
The street, the house, the room
The pavement of the city
Or a garden all in bloom
The church the school the clubhouse
The millions lights I see
Especially the people
That's America to me