So, How Do We Open Our Minds....

[GoodWitch58]

"So how do we discipline our brains to be more open-minded, more honest, more empirical? A start is to reach out to moderates on the other side — ideally eating meals with them, for that breaks down “us vs. them” battle lines that seem embedded in us. (In ancient times we divided into tribes; today, into political parties.) The Web site Civil Politics - Home Page is an attempt to build this intuitive appreciation for the other side’s morality, even if it’s not our morality".http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/28/opinion/28kristof.html?ref=opinion

I found this thought-provoking. What do you think?

 

[scooterbug44]

I find some of the logic flawed - I would posit that people's reactions are not because they have conservative or liberal politics, but because of the typical demographics/experiences of those groups, so this just feeds the stereotypes and divisions more.

IMO the biggest way to get past it is for people to stop trying to label everyone - which is the opposite of what the media and political leaders constantly try to do to further their agendas.

We need to see people and ideas first and party(if any) second.

 

[Gidget]

This was in the article, and I agree "Simply exposing people to counterarguments may not accomplish much, he said, and may inflame antagonisms."

I have yet to watch a news show or any show for that matter where someone on one side of an issue came over to the other side. I never hear "You made a good point - I never thought of it that way - you may have just changed my mind."

I hope I am able to be an exception - at times anyway. ;-)

G

 

[scooterbug44]

If you go through Sowal threads, you will find that the ones where there is a good discussion of an issue tend to not focus on/mention political parties or assign someone's opinion to a certain political party.

Once the party nonsense comes in it usually goes downhill fast because the discussion then becomes an us vs. them instead of an exchange of ideas from various sources.

 

[Miss Kitty]

IMHO, your mind will open when you realize you are not right all the time.

 

[Rudyjohn]

IMHO, your mind will open when you realize you are not right all the time.

Exactly. Someone (Iwishiwasthere, I think) posted my favorite quote, "A wise man will often change his mind, a fool never does."

.

 

[Lynnie]

I just digg all of the new possibilities when opening my mind~~~~~always up for something new, funn and groovy. I think my upbringing of being a free-thinker has a lot to do with it as well as being fortunate to have traveled and seen/experienced differences in cultures, beliefs from religion to politics, to fundamentals in lifestyle.

 

[hnooe]

I just digg all of the new possibilities when opening my mind~~~~~always up for something new, funn and groovy. I think my upbringing of being a free-thinker has a lot to do with it as well as being fortunate to have traveled and seen/experienced differences in cultures, beliefs from religion to politics, to fundamentals in lifestyle.

You hit it the nail here. It doesn't mean you have to accept other cultures or religions--just respect them. I wish everyone could afford the time or money to travel or experience cultures and beliefs that are different from our own in the U.S.--being open minded has nothing to do with being Liberal or Conservative really. It is funny though, the Conservative/Libertarians that I have met and know on a personal level always seem MUCH more open minded than the unknown ones on SoWal.

We have many open minded Conservative couple friends, one couple is even a Log Cabin Republican gay couple, that always promotes lively political discussions.

 

[CampCreekLou]

You hit it the nail here. It doesn't mean you have to accept other cultures or religions--just respect them. I wish everyone could afford the time or money to travel or experience cultures and beliefs that are different from our own in the U.S.--being open minded has nothing to do with being Liberal or Conservative really. It is funny though, the Conservative/Libertarians that I have met and know on a personal level always seem MUCH more open minded than the unknown ones on SoWal.

We have many open minded Conservative couple friends, one couple is even a Log Cabin Republican gay couple, that always promotes lively political discussions.

I don't know, H. Does it mean that I am not open-minded because I don't respect the culture that forces it's women to extend their necks with rings, mutiliates their feet with bindings, forces them to cover themselves from head-to-foot or face beatings, or the cultures that kill people for the mere fact they are gay?

Maybe being open-minded and knowing right from wrong are two different things?

 

[Andy A]

Exactly. Someone (Iwishiwasthere, I think) posted my favorite quote, "A wise man will often change his mind, a fool never does."

.

Another quote from my wise but uneducated father.