Protecting Dominance

Call me "old school" or a "fuddy-duddy" or whatever else might seem appropriate as it applies to communication and dominance. I recognize that to some, when it comes to communicating with others, there are those who feel it is vital that they dominate or control the interaction. This way, they reason, they can both control what is being said as well heavily influence how the conversation will go. In other words, they can tip the scale toward getting what they want from others. These desired results can range from achieving agreement and being understood to triggering action by others and gaining acceptance. Any one of those possible outcomes is not necessarily a bad thing. What is "bad," however, is found more in the intent behind how one chooses to communicate. The act of dominating another for its own sake is, at the least, selfish and, at the most, manipulative and dishonest. At its best, the act of communicating is designed to foster mutual understanding and harmony. For hundreds of years now, men and women have added an array of layers to that act by identifying ways to communicate that goes beyond simply getting along. Communication, for many, is a way to sway or dictate the decisions and actions of others. At this point, we can no longer tell folks to stop communicating in a way that inflences others. That train, as they say, left the station years ago. But what we can strive for is encouraqing people to dominate through honest means. Do not lie. So long as honesty prevails, then dominance as it applies to communication is not wrong; nor does it need to be stopped. What we as a soceity need to keep doingi is enforcing regulations and sanctions that help ensure dishonest communication is kept to a minimum. At the same time, we must keep doing all we can to protect acts of dominance so long as they are carried out honestly.

The Challenge of Evolution

I wish to officialy add my name to the list of those who believe evolution is a good thing. I like, for instance, the fact that once we used to walk bent over but now walk upright. I like that once the only thing that could fly were birds but now mankind has multiple ways to take-wing and not die in the process. I like that once there were diseases that could kill us but now thanks to numerous medical advances we can deal with pretty easily. On a personal note, I like that once I ate food with my hands but now am able to use utensils so as to not make a mess and get all of the goodies in my mouth without spilling it all over my face or on the floor. Yes, evolution is a good thing, especially when it equates with progress. Of course, evolution does not come without a price. With it comes a need for us to adjust and change our behavior so as to ensure the evolutionary step takes-hold. One example is toothpaste. The invention of toothpaste designed to help keep our choppers healthy and white is a good thing, but now we have to incorporate it into our schedules using it two-three times per day to ensure we benefit from it. No discussion of evolution would be complete without mentioning communication. Over the past few centuries the number of evolutionary changes regarding this field and act have been staggering. Not only can folks on different sides of the planet speak to each other, but they can do so in "real time" and face-to-to-face. When it comes to communication,one very tricky aspect is incorporating it into our own evolution as individuals. Every day I am bombarded with information. The result is I have some tidbits of information in my head today that I did not have yesterday. At the sametime, there probably are some nuggets I had that I have either forgotten or no longer need or want. This forces me to make some adjustments on a constant basis. This influences how I comunicate with others. It also impacts how others communicate with me. Progress, yes, but also constant challenge.

Election Results

The 2020 Presidential election is now history. The incumbent was defeated - something that has happened only a few times in our nation's history. More people voted in this election than ever in any in our history. The winner received more votes than anyone who has ever run for president. The person who received the second most votes in an presidential election was his opponent, the incumbent. The giant voter turnout is a good thing, of course. Seeing that many citizens do their civic duty is one thing we can all feel good about. In past elections, far too many folks elected not to do their duty. The result was a nation that did not fill its mandate. In 2020 we did much better. With so many people voting, a signficiant result is that there are millions of people who are now very unhappy. They are upset because their preferred candidate - the incumbent - lost. Some are even bitter. Many are convinced the other side cheated to win. Never mind that so far no on has yet to produce evidence to support that claim. A little over half the voting public is extremely happy at how the election turned out. But then there is sizable portion that remains upset. Going into the election the nation was nearly equally divided in terms of the two major candidates. Now with the results in, we still seem to be divided. The election did not heal the divide. Rather, it documented in. Yes, it is good to finally have it behind us. But now what? There remains far too much distrust and animosity. What is going to be done to address that? Giant blocks of citizens are still on opposite sides thinking unpleasant thoughts about the other. This cannot continue. What are our leaders going to do about? What are we going to do about it? One step in the right direction is going to need to involve a great deal of effective communicating. Listening with respect. Talking with. Having open minds and hearts. Bridging the divide within our nation is not going to happen without that.

Choice

The entry I am making now falls on a very significant day in American history: 2020 presidential election. As I write this, over 100 million votes have already been caste. Experts are predicting this year's electrion between Trump and Biden will see the largest voter turnout very possibly in the history of our nation. If that turns out to be true, then I will be delighted. The more people who participate in our nation's democratic process, then the better it is for all of us. After all, an engagged citizenry is what we are supposed to be about. Particularly in a democracy, the health of the nation is only as strong as the active interest of its people. Democracy is about choice. Making one. Sometimes the choice is easy. Sometimes not. Sometimes neither alternative is appealing. For too often when faced with candidates that do not measure up to a voter's ideals, voters here in America have opted to not vote at all; not make any choice. I have always found such behavior to be most unfortunate. When voters decide not to fulfill their civic duty, then we all suffer. The democratic form of government that defines the United Statres suffers. It becomes weaker. Elections are designed to help people determine the direction of the nation. To turn away from that represents a level of apathy that benefits no one. Think how this might apply to communication. When interacting with another, we all have a choice to make as to how we are going to communicate with that person. Be friendly? Be rude? Talk at but not with? Not talk at all? If any of us choose not to communicate at all, then what does that say about us? What is another supposed to think when assessing our character? If given a choice, I am sure we would all prefer that people not think ill of us. As a result, we should behave accordingly. We should choose to communicate in a way that helps make sure that does not happen. This election day, I hope as many people as possible make a choice. I also urge all of us to make a positive choice when it comes to communicating with others.

Ghosts & Goblins

Our nation's next presidential election is now just days away. As is normally the case, there is much tension in the air and will be until the results are known. And even after a victor has been declared officially, dissatisfaction throughout much of the country will remain. The losing political party and its many members will be upset that their candidate lost. Many, no doubt, will continue to make known their ill-feelings about the "other side" as well as their unwillingness to make any thing resembling an overture toward reconciliation. In many ways, the presidential election will not resolve the differences within our country. This reality is what makes Halloween 2020 all the scarier. The ghosts and goblins, it seems, are not children dressed in an array of creative costumes. Rather, they appear to be the grown-ups. It is easy to identify which ones they are. On the one hand, they are the folks who lovingly chuckle at how cute their kids and the ones in the neighborhood are. But on the other, they also spew forth ugly remarks and attitudes toward those who have political views that are counter to theirs. These are the worst kind of ghosts and goblins because their nastiness seems mindless, unrelenting and driven by a very narrow way of thinking. So, what is to be done with what is one of the worst Halloween's in our nation's history? Given the state of mind among so many people, including many of our so-called leaders, the upcoming election will not produce winners and losers. Rather, it will produce losers unless the ghosts and goblins driving it decide to cease with their intolerant mind-set. Such an act requires courage. It calls for a recognition that as valid as our perspectives might be, it is time to begin working at melding them with ones that are different than ours. Also, this time in our history calls for all of us to exhibit a willingness to communicate.

Addressing a Divided House

As of this entry, there is now one week to go before the 2020 Presidential election. By now, it is safe to say that most everyone knows there is much riding on the results. People on both sides of the political aisle are convinced that the country will be on the road to disaster if their side loses. The kicker is that each is probably right - given their perspective on life in the U.S. these past four years. That means there are going to be an awful lot of unhappy folks no matter the results. With that in mind, it seems as if the first order of business for either Trump or Biden will be to begin taking steps to bring the country together. How does one do that? How does one take opposing sides that are convinced with every core of their being that not only are they right in how they see the world but the other side goes beyond wrong. Those on the opposite side are practically evil and because they feel the way they do they are also idiots. On top of that, a large segment of the population will view Trump with much distrust and scorn if he wins and the same will be true with Biden should he win the day. Talk about your tall order. If the winner of the election ignores this divide, then they will be making a major mistake as it will only get worse. The first thing the winner will need to do is acknowledge the divide. Even though such a declaration may seem like stating the obvious, coming from the President of the United States it will still have impact. The second step should be to launch a nationwide listening tour as conducted by the President, his top aides, and even leaders from the opposite political party. Voters will be upset and cry out to express their emotions. Trump and/or Biden will need to give them that opportunity in the form of town hall meetings throughout the entire country. Results of that effort should then be compiled with appropriate recommendations for elected leaders and citizens to follow. Throughout all this, the President should continue to recommit himself to establishing unity in our nation. It is time for all of us to begin taking tangible steps to address our house divided.

Mud-Slinging

Mud-slinging is an expression that has been with us for many years. It pertains to a high level of accusations and insulting that occurs between political candidates who are running against each other for office. I do not know the origins of the expression or who introduced it. Whoever it is should be recognized everytime we have a political campaign. After all, it is not every day one coins an expression that requires no explanation even among those who do not follow politics. Off-hand, the only other phrase that I can think of that ranks just as high on the familiarity scale and that requires no explanation is "love at first sight." As I write this, after today there are ten days remaining in the 2020 presidential campaign. The two candiates - President Donald Trump and former vice president Joe Biden - are following the tradition of mud-slinging. The negativity between them and their followers is intense and will no doubt continue long after the campaign itself is over. Both candidates are to be congratulated for the energy they are bringing to this form of campaigning. (Yes, there are such things as positive campaign. Not a campaign comes along where the candidates do not pledge to run positive campaigns. It is the rare candidate who keep this promise.) Personally, I would prefer if Trump and Biden made a better effort to be positive, but maybe they just bring out the worst in each other. What is the best way for the rest of us to handle this form of political communicating? Enjoy it? Ignore it? Hold office seekers to higher standards? Such questions are not as easy to answer as they might seem. After all, it is important for all citizens to vote even if we may not be totally pleased with our choices. Consequently, we the witnesses to the mud-slinging are left with the option of rising above the unpleasant behavior of our choices. We hope the person to whom we ultimately give our support is better than they sometimes appear to be.