Steve Frey
Leonardo da Vinci once said, “There are three classes of people: Those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see.”
He’s talking about having, developing, or lacking insight and understanding. Of course, with Easter tomorrow, this is an especially relevant quote for Christians.
Leonardo’s quote, however, can be applied to many different areas today, including politics.
Over the last several years, many of our legislators have decided that everything is an all or nothing proposition. They believe that they have to win at all costs and any kind of compromise with legislation is unacceptable.
Fortunately, our Founding Fathers included in our legislative process the concept that in certain cases to pass a bill, rather than a simple majority, a larger percentage of the legislators in a body, the Senate, for example, have to agree.
In that way, the legislation has to be acceptable to a great majority of the people rather than just getting by with a simple majority dividing both legislators and the people they represent.
Instead of having “clean bills” dedicated to just one issue, Republicans and Democrats both try to bring in other issues through negotiation to reach an agreement. Then they attack each other, and often candidates in their own parties based on these extra issues.
Additionally, both sides have decided that negative campaigning is the best way to win elections, so instead of focusing on their own positions and attributes, everything is geared toward tearing down the opposition.
If the legislator has compromised on any issue at all, or voted for (or against) a primary issue that had smaller, secondary issues attached, he is attacked.
As time has gone on, these negative attacks have become more vicious, lowering the level of discourse between politicians to new levels.
Unfortunately, this way of communicating has been copied by people in our communities so that there is a strong division between people. Some even say it’s “tribal.”
The lack of constructive communication between people is very destructive. Yes, people have disagreed on issues in the past, but now if you disagree with someone, there is not a reasonable debate between people who use facts to bolster a point.
Now, people feel they need to personally attack the other person and with social media, the attack can be immediate and brutal.
It would be great if people could work together to change the structure of our discourse.
Leonardo da Vinci was correct; there are those who see, those who see if shone, and those who will never see, but if people can be presented with facts and use critical thinking skills to take a position, they can be knowledgeable and informed voters.
Unfortunately, when presented with facts, there are some people who have developed that habit of arguing a position by attacking the other person and remaining closed to listening to another viewpoint. In their disparagement of the other person, the issue becomes lost in the shuffle and ignored.
They have hardened their position and, after advocating it repeatedly, can’t change. These people will probably never “see” unless something happens to them personally to change their point of view.
It’s the people in the middle, the people who will see and understand if shone and explained the facts that we should try our hardest to inform. They are open to listening to ideas and may, in the end, see and understand positions.
How should we approach that communication? Here are a couple ideas.
Probably the best way would be to talk positively to people. Believe that they want what’s best for the community and the country, too.
There can be more than one way to reach goals like, let’s say, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Know that some people have it ingrained in them that they have to attack personally, so don’t lose a lot of time trying to convince them and don’t be pulled into their negative world.
Take the high road, share ideas positively and sincerely, and, if you find that there is no chance that they are hearing you, disengage with them. You’ve tried.
Focus your discussion on the people who seem to think critically. Don’t expect them to instantly agree with your point of view, but share it logically and positively. Then listen to them.
Be able to explain their points and show, in a respectful manner, where you disagree and why. They may have some great ideas, too, and you may be the one who will “see if shone.”
Most of all, think critically yourself. Really study the issues and think through the points that come up from all sides of a discussion. Don’t just agree with something because of strict ideology, a television commentator, or allegiance to a party or precept.
Make your own decisions based on listening to the discussion and facts, filtering out any obvious slant. Consider what you think is best for the country, the community, and the people, and then decide who you will support based on your own personal convictions.
In the past, people would have debates based on issues. The Lincoln-Douglas debates are a good example. In the debates, Lincoln and Douglas would share their opinions, and, of course, bring in humor, irony, and other techniques to make their points using intellectual constructs and logic.
I don’t recall where Lincoln called Douglas a “snowflake” or Douglas called Lincoln a “RepubliCON,” although they may have been thinking it.
Jesus said to his apostles in Matthew, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
Notice that he didn’t say call them names, make fun of them, put them down, or whatever. He didn’t say fight and persecute others (Although the Salem Witch Trials and the Spanish Inquisition had so-called Christians who acted differently, for example.) to make them Christians.
No, the apostles went out and spread the Good News. They were persecuted, but they stood fast to their beliefs and followed Jesus’s example in treating others as they wished to be treated.
After a few centuries of Christianity’s peaceful perseverance, it won over its greatest convert, Constantine I, who became the first Christian Roman Emperor, and it became the established religion of the empire.
Yes, Leonardo was right about insight. Share your views in a positive, logical, thoughtful manner, and know that not all will reciprocate in kind. Then, make the most important statement you can in the place where it means the most—vote.
Steve Frey is a writer and CEO of Ascendant Educational Services based in Radford.
