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tyler's avatar

Well thought out commentary. I don't ever debate anybody. I have yet to encounter anyone actually interested in my opinion. I don't recall ever changing anyones opinion. I think of politics like sports fandom. If someone likes the Yankees/Coyboys/Lakers there is nothing you can do to talk them out of it. And they will die defending their team. There just aint no logic to it.

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Alexia Salvatierra's avatar

Great conversation. Thank you Dave for kicking it off with that well-written and well thought out post. A few of my thoughts: Thoughtful reflection on ideas that differ from those held by the people you love most is really hard. It's as hard as daily exercise when you are old and your whole body hurts for at least the first twenty minutes of it. To overcome natural impulses to do hard things requires an understanding both of those natural impulses and the legitimate reasons to do it any way. My faith calls me to accurate humility; I am not God and there is a God outside me and my tribe that I am accountable to. (Of course, I am aware that not everyone shares that belief, and that those who do are not always characterized by humility.) The more I learn, the closer I get to the beautiful truth that is at the heart of all things, and the better decisions I make about my life. I have noticed that it also does feel better in the end to be the best self that I can, even if it also hurts and involves loss. That's also one of my motivations. I know that we all have different reasons for moral courage and intellectual integrity, as well as the deep humor that comes from seeing ourselves clearly. Your reasons for self-reflection may not be the same as mine, but I do believe that it is important, and will be increasingly important in a battlefield season, to find out what they are, remember them, share them and remind each other of them. I think that we are in the minority, those of us who are committed to this practice, and we need to support each other. It won't be a popular stance, but in the end, there is also a joy in being in the company of those who make good and hard choices. Glad you are all out there!

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