Good Faith…

Good faith suggests belief in good.  Faith has always meant believing in something despite the evidence. Good has always meant “right” or “pure” to me.  I am of the belief that we have lost the ability to have Good Faith arguments. I know, not controversial right?  But think about it in the context of you and me, or you and your brother, or you and your best friend.  If I engage in a Good Faith discussion with a person I love and trust, despite our differences it’s easier to point out the flaws of their perspective versus their actual argument.  The perspective is flawed because it is drenched in victimhood, or superiority.  This can also be used to rob you of your right to an opinion because you are not as informed potentially as someone that has lived it or been close to it. Now I tend to agree that if you aren’t “in” it then arguing is not the best course of action—you should listen.  Then there is the old idea that because you have a platform you “shouldn’t” speak.  I believe all of these are flawed.  

“The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence,” Charles Bukowski

A Good Faith argument, doesn’t have to be vitriolic or angry for that matter.  Passion sure… But to truly have a conversation that is driven toward understanding versus right or wrong is healthy.  I believe that.  Yet our culture is led by leaders that don’t engage in discussions. And definitely not a “Good Faith” discussion.  The most pervasive force in our culture is the internet and social media is by far the most powerful medium for the dissemination of ideas.  It’s dangerous to the uninitiated.  Hell, it’s dangerous to the people that truly understand how it works and how little you have to know to have a voice.  I had read this once, now I’m paraphrasing, that conflict starts with two people in a room.  The concept is simple.  That conflict is natural to humans.  It’s in our very nature to argue.  This goes back to the forefathers, and to the philosophers and the old world.  There were rules of engagement for debate. Now everything has abandoned that idea and it’s all about “owning” or “humiliating” the other side.  Everything has become a rap battle versus a discussion. Now i get the urge to “own” some arguments because they are that misinformed or that wrong.  I’m not going to pretend that racism is good so that I can talk to you about nationalism or immigration. I will listen, and once you go there, I’m done.  That idea disqualifies you from the whole idea of “Good” in my eyes.  But if you want to discuss the  idea that we should speak about the problem as a whole versus how it affects one particular person or group, maybe.  I’m listening, but don’t go there.

As I sit here and think about the countless ideas that have the majority such as healthcare is a right, and common sense gun laws make sense I can’t help but think of the people that are in the very place to gain the most and how they are using us as pawns in the argument.  Again, this is not “Good”.  They are taking things such as absolute ideology and ultimately telling us how we should think and feel.  The idea of being ambivalent has driven a whole segment of the population to be agnostic or indifferent.  Ambivalence to me is a sign of intelligence and wisdom not a lack of courage.  So don’t let anyone tell you what you should think.  I pose that the vast majority of us are ambivalent.  Just don’t be indifferent.  That’s the death of progress.  

So here we are at the very precipice of a return to civilization- to “Normal”.  I want to get rid of these damn masks as much as anyone.  You know how many times the barista has messed up my order! In all seriousness— let’s take a deep breath and listen.  Be ambivalent.  Don’t hate an opinion before it’s shared before you really listen, and hear it out.  Then place your foot firmly on your non-negotiables— ie racism, taxes, etc. When it’s all said and done, say thanks I hadn’t thought about it that way.  Then move on.  Then when it’s all said and done— discover how you really feel and think.  Don’t let the paid propagandist, the spinsters, and the firmly implanted and indoctrinated tell you that you are weak because you don’t know.  Have Good Faith in others because they weren’t born of that opinion they were forged in it over years or they were convinced because of some bought and paid for hashtag.  

“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change,” Albert Einstein

“Those convinced against their will are of the same opinion still,” Dale Carnegie