In 2025, I resolve to…____________________(now – fill in the blank)! I resolve to eat better. I resolve to lose 5 lbs.. I resolve to go to my church, my synagogue, or my mosque more often. I resolve, I resolve, and I resolve. The list goes on and on and yet by February 1, all too often all those resolutions are forgotten.
Let’s add one more resolution for 2025 that would improve your life and make you a happier and more interesting person – does that sound good? Do you think it is possible to resolve to become more open-minded? Do you think it is possible to show respect for someone that holds a different perspective than the perspective which you hold? Is that possible? Can you see the potential benefits of this New Year Resolution? Do you think you could become a better person by opening your mind? The beauty of this resolution is that once you get started on becoming open minded, it will become easier and easier.
Firstly – how do you view yourself? Do you view yourself politically as Liberal, Conservative, or Moderate? How can you determine your political viewpoint? An easy way might be to look at the news outlets you view and determine their slant? Maybe you can go to your bookshelves and really think about the authors you choose to read? Maybe you can look at the candidates you have supported with your votes. What do these candidates stand for and how are they portrayed in the press? All these activities will give you some inkling as to where you stand from a political perspective.
Another way might be to visit an online site for a quick 2 minute survey that will probably be enlightening. Here is a site I visited on December 31st, 2024: https://www.theadvocates.org/ My results were mostly in line with how I felt I viewed myself from a political standpoint. It was fun and my hope is that it might be fun for you and better still – enlightening.
Now – please indulge me and take a minute to view the thoughts of Jordan Peterson (psychologist, media commentator, and author) after which, we will do a quick analysis of his comments:
Let me start by saying, I wish he had spoken more slowly as it would have been much easier to understand his thoughts. Now, that aside, Peterson had some fascinating thoughts (albeit generalizations) about the virtues of both conservatives and liberals. Did you notice that he posits that both groups of people have strengths and real value? He suggests that listening to both would benefit society. I would like to take it one step further by suggesting that listening to both would not only benefit society but as importantly, would benefit the individual! Let me ask a simple question – How are you hurt by listening to a perspective that is at odds with your belief system?
OK – maybe it doesn’t matter what Jordan Peterson or Tom Monastra (me) think. How about the thoughts of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg? Here is a quote from her book, My Own Words, when she was discussing the value of dissent in opinions.
I emphasize first that dissents and separate concurrences are not consummations devoutly to be avoided. As Justice William J. Brennan said in a thoughtful defense of dissents: “None of us, lawyers or laymen, teacher or student, in our society must ever feel that to express a conviction, honestly and sincerely maintained, is to violate some unwritten law of manners or decorum.” I (Ginsburg) question, however, resort to expressions in separate opinions that generate more heat than light.
So – in a nutshell, Justice Ginsburg feels that dissent in an opinion is required and valuable as long as it is respectful. So… let’s strive to be respectful as we listen to ideas with which we disagree.
All right – maybe Justice Ginsburg is not your “cup of tea”. How about Thomas Sowell? For those not familiar with Thomas Sowell, he is a highly respected economist with a long career in education as well as private industry. He currently is a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institute at Stanford University. Below please find some of Sowell’s thoughts from the preface of his book; Discrimination and Disparities.
Disagreements about social issues in general seem to be not only inevitable but even beneficial, when opposing sides are forced to confront contrary arguments that might not have been considered before, and examine empirical evidence not confronted before. Neither side may have taken all the factors into consideration, but having to cope with each other’s different views may bring out considerations that neither side gave much thought to at the outset.
I am not certain what I could add to that statement! Sowell spells out clearly the benefits derived from listening and debating ideas.
Now, my friends, it is up to us! Will you take the first month of this New Year to educate yourself and listen to a different viewpoint? My sincere hope is that you will make this your New Year Resolution!
Thoughts? / Comments?
