It's time to make a Shift, America

Category: Chamber Corner Chamber Corner
Published: 01 July 2020 01 July 2020

Happy Birthday, America! Did you ever think 244 years ago that we'd be celebrating your birthday during a time of crisis and pandemic? Thanks to the patriots who laid the groundwork for our country we are able to celebrate this holiday in 2020, even in its uniqueness!

The framers of our constitution had the forethought to understand that America would be a country of independent thinkers and freedom fighters. We have always understood the Constitution of the United States of America was to be a continually relevant document. I'm amazed that they envisioned a country of 2.5 billion people that would someday become the melting pot of the entire world. Obviously the framers are not alive today but I would like to think that if they were they would be pleased with the way things are going right now. Yes… really!

For a country that has been made up of so many different cultures, ideologies and people it would be naive to think that we would not have opposing viewpoints or different ideas. These differences are why the Constitution grants us freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly and all the other freedoms that go along with our citizenship as Americans. You may not agree with me today, but those freedoms, and our defense of them, is what I believe would make our framers very proud. Civil discord is the fuel that propels the engine of progress. In many ways it is what advances our ideas and leads to robust discussions.

Yes, FUNDAMENTALLY, I believe that Jefferson, Hancock, Adams and Washington, et al, would, theoretically, applaud the way our country is reacting today. However, I do believe they would demand a couple of changes which could smooth out the process. They would tell us to increase our focus on civility and change discord to discourse. These changes would give us a better chance at reaching compromise and reaching a better conclusion.

We must begin to change from discord to discourse if we want things to get better. How do we do this? Here is one option: Let's say that I have a problem with the Governor, either by political affiliation or my vast knowledge of science, I might tend to be close minded every time she begins to speak. My viewpoint is solidified by my personal belief system and nothing she says will ever make sense to me. Civil Discord dictates that I run out into the street to find someone who thinks like the Governor and, forcefully, persuade them that they are wrong. Keep in mind that they will probably defend their viewpoint as vigorously as do I.

Now, let's look at this same situation with a focus on civil discourse. Civil discourse dictates that I approach the person with the opposing view point and begin a conversation with some sort of open ended question such as, "the Governor chose to shut the state down, based on scientific data about COVID 19, and you believe she did it because she hates business and wants to infringe my constitutional rights. Will you please explain to me why it would make sense for her to destroy our states' economy by closing everything down? What does she have to gain by plunging 20% of our residents into unemployment? Civil discourse dictates further that the other person would calmly answer my question and we would discuss the issue until we either changed our own viewpoint or agreed to disagree.

Civil discourse doesn't mean that my viewpoint isn't heard it simply means that I don't have to yell when I'm delivering my opinion to others. Civil discourse can be peaceful and it can be effective. Think about Dr. King's march on Washington during the civil rights movement. Peaceful protest was the key and today our memory of that day is his famous, "I have a dream" speech. Imagine what our world would be like if all of the protests happening today were peaceful with a positive discourse.

You and I may not agree on some things that seem momentous today. However, in the big picture, if we focus on the reasons why we believe the way we do, and understand that the guy you are screaming at right now is also looking for "Life, Liberty, and Happiness" then maybe we will remember that we are both patriots and our mutual love for our country makes us more alike that we wish to believe.

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