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are for Jars – in this article by Kira Schiavone, she explores how we pegion-hole
ourselves and each other and it’s not until we debate issues based on facts –
and not emotion – do we find out where we really stand and find out that we all
want to believe in basic things such as Freedom, Respect, and The Truth…I am a Liberal Democrat. Or, at least, I was. I clung to this as a badge of honor on the FC forums. I was raised in a very Democratic locale and very Democratic community, to the point where I knew few Republicans growing up. And I had instilled in me most of the modern-day Liberal political views- guns should be illegal, homosexual marriage is good, pro-choice, and the Republican Conservatives are ruining the country. I believed all that because I was raised to believe it, although I had no real, reasoned defense for a lot of it. I simply believed it.
And then I came to the FC. Well, first I came to the Star Trek forum where the FC was being promoted, but when a separate forum was created, I followed it. On that separate forum, I discovered people who not only disagreed with me on politics (although that was a novelty in itself), but people who could back up this disagreement with logical reasoning. It’s no coincidence that these arguments coincided with my beginning to question my own political beliefs. I began to change some of those beliefs, and through argument, I became able to back up the beliefs I retained. I became what was described as libertarian. One of the Conservative Republicans on the forum even presented an argument to me where, upon reading it, I changed my position to agree with his.
So the moral here? Go out and make logical, reasoned arguments. Back up your reasoning with logic, and force people to back up theirs. Even if all you ever change is one mind, it’s a start. By such little victories are hearts and wars won. Respect your opponents for the strength of their convictions, and debate respectfully even as you disagree. Don’t insult even if they can’t back up their convictions, just present logic. There are some people who are stubborn extremists, but most of the world isn’t like that. If more debate was centered around logical discussion of issues rather than partisan politics, perhaps the country wouldn’t be in such a mess today.
Oh, and one last thing: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that
ever has.” ~Margaret Mead.
