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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Alan Smithee who wrote (105683)	6/6/2005 2:38:59 PM
From: redfish	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

I agree, one should attempt to interact with even the most swinish of republicans, if for no other reason than to keep an eye on the little rascals.

To: Alan Smithee who wrote (105683)	6/7/2005 5:43:33 PM
From: The Philosopher	Respond to of 108807

As I read your post I recalled the comment that was attributed to film critic Pauline Kael after Ronald Reagan was first elected, "I don't understand how he could be elected, I don't know anyone who voted for him. [paraphrased]. She was surprised because she refused to meet and know anyone who had political beliefs different from those she held. Hence, she was mystified at how it could be that she was out of step with a significant majority of the country, instead of the other way around. This is, I think, a situation (problem?) not only for Grainne, but for many strident liberals, including many of the media, particularly those who live on the coasts in relatively isolated enclaves of liberalism (San Francisco, L.A., Seattle, Bahston, etc.) They are astonished that someone like Bush could get elected by a majority of the voters because they simply have no experience of meeting and getting to know the people who vote for Bush. They see their role as imposing their beliefs on other because of course they are right, rather than being willing to engage in serious dialogue in which they are willing to entertain the possibility that their ideas may NOT be right. (Not that I'm saying they're right or wrong about any given issue. That's not my point. My point is closed-mindedness which is unwilling to seriously consider the possibility of error.) This is exactly the opposite of what education is supposed to do. Education is supposed to open one to new ideas, to enable one to understand and engage people of all different cultures, concepts, ways of thinking, and learn from them, perhaps learning in the process that one's ideas aren't as solid as one once thought they were. Take, for example, Evangelical Christians. I happen not to agree at all with their religious beliefs, but I am willing to seek out those (and yes, there are some, even many) who are willing to engage in open and honest dialogue about issues and discuss things with them. But many of my liberal friends are unwilling to accept that these are fellow Americans who we share a country with and who are every bit as much legitimate Americans as we are. Many of my liberal friends view Evangelical Christians as abhorrent, as an enemy more dangerous to our way of life even than the Taliban, as people they are utterly unwilling even to try to understand and talk seriously with. Is this any way to run a democracy?

To: Alan Smithee who wrote (105683)	6/9/2005 1:58:47 AM
From: Grainne	Respond to of 108807

I think the criticism in your post is unfair, Alan. Specifically, this comment: "You constantly post suggesting that others should read the articles you come up with, saying we should keep an open mind and be willing to consider other points of view. Yet, in the post that I'm replying to, you make it clear you are not interested in meeting others with different POV's and learning from them. You'd rather surround yourself with like-minded people and not expose yourself to different beliefs and points of view." First, I read all the articles other people post at Feelies. I also read widely from a large variety of viewpoints every day, because I am really curious and love politics. I am very open minded in terms of exposing myself to the ideas of others, left and right. I sometimes even post columns from conservative writers like David Brooks here. So I don't think it's unreasonable to ask that others read what I post, also. Second, the post I wrote was about having close friends. I explained that I have very few close friends, and when I do, I like to share activities with them. I really doubt that I could drag conservative friends to animal rights protests or farm sanctuaries or anti-war protests, which are the places I would like to go with close friends (since everyone in my family is on a different schedule and works when I am off). I am well exposed to other belief systems and points of view simply by reading Feelies, incidentally. In my private life I am looking for COMPANIONSHIP.