Believe me, you have a point. You’ve made it in conversation, on Facebook, in your rants, in the grocery store and at church. It’s evident and clear, you have a point.
- If you believe that racism is a problem in America today, you have a point.
- If you believe that riots, looting and burning down businesses are wrong, you have a point.
- If you believe President Trump should speak and tweet less, you have a point.
- If you believe Nancy Pelosi says some things that are detrimental to progress, you have a point.
- If you believe that politicians today are self-serving, arrogant and horrible, you have a point.
- If you believe the media stokes the flames of racism, division and discord, you have a point.
- If you believe that common sense has taken a leave of absence, you have a point.
- If you believe that some police officers are corrupt, you have a point.
- If you believe that police officers need better training, you have a point.
- If you believe that most police officers are upstanding and deserve the support of Americans, you have a point.
- If you believe that we are better than this, you have a point.
- If you believe that Democrats don’t miss a chance to take advantage of a crisis, you have a point.
- If you believe that Republicans don’t miss a chance to take advantage of a crisis, you have a point.
- If you believe that education prices and bias have gone wacky, you have a point.
- If you believe that double standards exist in society, you have a point.
- If you believe that only the other side misleads, lies or leaves out key points to their advantage, you have a point.
- If you want to get rid of Trump and McConnell, you have a point.
- If you want to get rid of Schumer and Pelosi, you have a point.
- If you believe that CNN and MSNBC are liberal voices in lockstep with Democrats, you have a point.
- If you believe that FoxNews is a conservative voice in lockstep with Republicans, you have a point.
- If you believe all the conspiracy theories of the right and the left are ludicrous, you have a point.
- If you believe the answer to the problems that plague us is God, you have a point.
- If you believe that people don’t want to listen to reason, you have a point.
- If you believe that God is trying to get the attention of America, you have a point.
Yes, you have a point. But here’s the over-arching question: What are you going to do about it?
- If you believe a change in politicians will change anything, you’ve missed the point.
- If you believe an election will change it all, you’ve missed the point.
- If you believe that people coming over to your side will solve everything, you’ve missed the point.
- If you believe that screaming louder, ranting more and raving endlessly will make it better, you’ve missed the point.
- If you believe everyone else is the problem, you’ve missed the point.
- If you believe “we” are better than “them”, you’ve missed the point.
- If you believe getting rid of Trump, McConnell, Schumer and/or Pelosi will fix it all, you’ve missed the point.
- If you believe that degrading, demeaning and humiliating those who disagree with you is the route to go, you’ve missed the point.
So what are you going to do about it? Vote? Of course. Rally? Sure. Speak out? Yep.
At some point, though, if you want to be part of the solution, you’ll have to listen to someone who disagrees with you. And you may have to have an open mind (ah oh!), eat a few words (gulp!) and actually hear what someone is saying. Without demeaning, without pointing a finger and without a “yeah, but.” And, on that one, I have a point.
Here are a few suggestions…
- Listen more than you talk.
- Listen to learn.
- Listen to understand.
- Stop interrupting!
- Don’t roll your eyes, make that face and shake your head.
- Ask questions rather than cast aspersions.
- Ask questions to seek understanding, not to make your point.
- Put your agenda on the back burner.
- Forget about your point.
- Learn to bite your tongue.
- Practice respect and consideration.
“You aren’t learning anything when you’re talking.” – Lyndon Johnson