Let's Talk

Alicia Garza once said, ~We all lose when bullying and personal attacks become a substitute for genuine conversation and principal disagreement.~ Without a doubt, the art of conversation has become lost because people would much rather talk over rather than with one another and at least listen in hopes of getting a better understanding of the points of view being discussed. Do you think so because I sure do, especially after what happened to Charlie Kirk. A man who gave an opportunity and a mic to openly talk/debate while doing his best in listening, as well as understanding the hot button topics presented. For it’s a disappointing and not to mention frustrating situation indeed knowing that engaging and practicing civil discourse is far beyond the agenda of a number of individuals who find it necessary to either verbally and/or physically attack someone in order to get their point across.

Let me ask this question to those of you who are friends with someone who has a different mindset from you politically, when was the last time the both of you had a conversation and was it considered civil? Here’s another question: Are the two of you still friends with each other or did the two of you not only part ways but haven’t spoken with each other since then? Thinking about it further, political discussion between friends of different affiliations can most definitely light a spark that can ignite a truly combustible conversation to the point where it explodes, in a manner of speaking, which certainly tests whether or not a friendship ends up surviving when the dust eventually settles. Unfortunately, it’s a sad state of affairs when solid friendships end up broken due to political misinformation, lack of research, and letting emotion take over rather than common sense/logic.

As I said before, it’s an unfortunate sad state of affairs when solid friendships end up broken due to political misinformation, lack of research, and letting emotion take over rather than common sense/logic. Oftentimes, it’s considerably difficult to have a political or even a general discussion within someone knowing the use of common sense, logical thinking is completely thrown out the window, so to speak, to where the individual in question chose to instead emotionally lash out because they feel their right and you’re wrong. Although the facts speak for themselves, it doesn’t matter because they’ll continue to repeat the same unbelievable and baffling rhetoric while at the same time not really thinking for himself/herself. What it primarily comes down to is doing the proper research such as fully watching and listening to the debates Charlie Kirk had with people he didn’t see eye to eye with.

For the question can be asked: Can two people who don’t see eye to eye politically be able to sit down and have a civil discussion without resorting to shouting or losing one’s composure? I honestly think so. Essentially, ego and pride must be set aside before it to have it happen so much so the willingness to reach out to the other side knowing the tremendous amount of negative hate and vitriol you’ll receive. One example of this was when CNN host Van Jones shared with Anderson Cooper how Charlie Kirk reached out to invite him to have a conversation just before he was murdered/assassinated during one of his usual debates at a college university campus in Utah. If you watch the video, Van was genuinely trying to understand Charlie’s intentions knowing they weren’t friends and they repeatedly beefed with one another, which certainly made a shockingly significant and hopefully positive impact on the political pundit that it in turn became Charlie's legacy.

In retrospect, one of the most important aspects of human history is when two people, groups, or whatever the case may be are brought together to talk things out despite the brewing hostility and anger. Of course, setting aside your emotions and opening up your mind to allow yourself to think for yourself instead of being manipulated into what to think or say shows a step in the right direction. In other words, when you’re able to turn off the noise around you and listen to what’s actually being said then you’ll be able to have a much clearer conversation. Ultimately, it’s a work in progress in which history has proven that when two sides finally stop the war of words and use those words in a peacefully calm way then something truly positive can be achieved. In the end, all it ever takes is for a metaphorical seed possibly planted in such a genuine way by saying two simple words that started it all which are let’s talk.