Listening Well

I am disappointed and heartbroken at the ever-increasing rudeness of people expressing their opinions. Especially in this election year it seems more and more that people seek to drown out any message or messenger with which they disagree. Many people don't even want to hear a point of view that is different than their own. From radio "shock jocks" to TV pundits raising their voices and talking over anyone on the panel who holds an differing opinion, to bloggers who fill their retorts with expletives in responding to those with whom they disagree...a little decency, please.

I like the way my friend Shane put it:

"We hope to make our critics our friends, be good listeners, and be known as people who disagree well, and treat those who see things differently with the same grace we hope to feel from them. Protesters on either side screaming at each other so loudly that no one can hear what the other is saying, or what either side is saying--just noise, neither message getting through. In order to listen you have to shut up for a minute."

Americans in general need to return to civil discourse--less anger and rudeness--and treat those with whom we disagree with a little respect. It would also be nice to clean up our language and expand our vocabulary so that vulgarities and "cuss words" were rarities in our public and private conversations. I'm not a prude and I'm a great defender of freedom of speech. I'm also weary of "animosity overload" that's rampant in most every form of broadcast and print media these days.

I like the life motto that a middle school student once shared with me: "Play Nice of Leave the Planet"

Wise kid.