I wonder how many hearts and minds were won in the recent week by all the hard efforts (organizing, mobilizing, messaging) and how many hearts and minds were lost as a result of the continued intolerance towards different opinions on the FB group. Varied beliefs and opinions will exist, and each of these will be informed differently and to different levels, and each of these have a place in the discourse. Condescending, patronizing comments which devolve into an exchange of insults from all quarters achieves one thing only - disenfranchisement. Caring about the community and its well being is not exclusive to one group nor is it measured by attendance at council meetings. Not every political opinion will be as informed as another. So what? Intolerance wont help inform those opinions. To disregard those opinions is to miss the opportunity to, over time, inform it and win a heart and mind. Not all volunteers, teachers, day-care providers, mentors will be politically active and yet they give so much to it, in fact without them this city would be nothing. The same applies to those who are politically active and engaged, they invest tremendous effort and bring much to the town. The strength of a community is found in the unity of these efforts. Healing starts with tolerance and acceptance. Rebuilding rests on open debate and discussion.
Posted on: Tue, 08 Oct 2013 05:05:14 +0000
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