there is lunacy afoot.

lighten up!

become comfortable with the fact that not everybody agrees with you and that
they don't have to agree with you.

become comfortable with the fact that it is not your foresworn duty to
change the hearts and minds of those who disagree with you.  the reality is
that you cannot force anybody to change their heart or mind; a person has to
do that himself and for himself.

understand that it is not essential to ideas, of any kind, to engage
emotions and adhere emotionalism to them.

realize that an intelligent argument does not lend itself to emotionalism.
when you add emotionalism to intelligent argument you have turned a valuable
discussion into a brawl, where clarity of thought and logic evaporate.

recognize that whatever you perceive, and believe you understand about what
you perceive, is still a very limited view of the whole, of any situation,
any issue or any idea.  it doesn't matter what side you are on; you cannot
see and understand everything that pertains.

realize that you do not have to believe and cling to every idea or thought
that comes into your mind, from either internal or external sources.

recognize that, both, fear-based rhetoric and delusional optimism are forms
of destructive communication, because they get in the way of communicating
what actually exists.

recognize that it is a desparate (and/or lazy) mind and irrational
emotionalism that resorts to name calling and non-sequitors, in any
discussion.

understand that we are more alike than we are dissimilar and that common
ground warrants respect and deference.

recognize that an "us versus them" and/or a "need to be right" mentality
invites dischord, disrespect, emotionalism, retaliation, unresolvable
feuding, destructive attitudes and behaviors.  these destroy all chances for
unity of resolve, determination and action.  these also make enemies of
friends.

and finally -- recognize that issues and ideas become deadly, when we become
deadly serious about them.

lighten up!  please.

kate