To the Editor:
The current political polarization should make us all pause and be more analytical and escape the echo chambers we allow ourselves to be drawn into. We all enjoy hearing information that reinforces what we want to believe. Cognitive bias is difficult, but not impossible, to overcome.
Democrats paint Republicans as devils, warning that conservatives will take away your health care, civil liberties, and make the rich richer, and Republicans frame a good-versus-evil narrative, saying liberals want to take your guns, allow open borders and kill babies. Conservatives argue we need to return to the good ol’ days, while liberals say push forward and leave behind the past. Both are wrong. Both use fear to attract votes, even though we claim to be the home of the brave. Real courage meets in the middle.
Democracy involves more than voting every four years for whoever looks best on camera or for who can come up with the most emotionally charged slogan, but is about civil discussions with individuals who think differently than one’s self in order to arrive at the best possible solutions, not win at all costs and continually demonize the other side, which is what both Democrats and Republicans do on a regular basis. As a Christian, I was disheartened to see rioters using Christian symbols to attack the Capitol on Jan. 6 because nationalism and Christianity do not mix, and is one element that separates Christianity from other belief systems, which believers should respect and cherish.
Richard Blankenship
Manlius
"discourse" - Google News
March 10, 2021 at 12:03AM
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‘Real courage meets in the middle’ of political discourse (Your Letters) - syracuse.com
"discourse" - Google News
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