It is mind numbing that a speaker was murdered on a college campus this week because his opinions irritate a segment of the population. The slaying makes a mockery of Papa’s old “sifting and winnowing” recommendation to you from Badgerland. An evil example that far too many of our fellow citizens have indeed closed their minds. That this week’s victim died trying to pry open minds on college campuses adds to the irony. It is scary that so many people fervently believe that they and their cohorts are 100% correct 100% of the time. Closed minds that are ripe for manipulation. True believers probably don’t see why another person can’t be wrong 100% of the time on everything. Conversely, it must feel good for them to feel correct 100% of the time.
Closed minded folks may be overdue for what Papa describes as a healthy dose of “So What?” Assuming the murder victim batted zero for a hundred and was preaching that up is down and black is white and that rain falls upward why would any rational person find those opinions worthy of intentional homicide? Ah, some will say, the problem lies with the fact that many people agreed with him. He had a following. Some internet nuts suggest that such accepted opinions justify violence against the speaker. What logic. Then is it okay to accept violence against those who heard his message and agree with his opinions? Might those supposedly misguided folks repeat/spread his thoughts? What about those cretins who only accept 40 or 60 or 70% of his philosophy? Off with their heads also? Could it be that it is difficult to quash ideas with a single bullet?
Not so fast some may say to Papa. He wasn’t takling about up being down or other silly examples cited above. True believers that the sky is falling in so many respects will claim the murder victim supported what they see as vile speech. He frequented college campuses to try to convince students towards more conservative thinking. In a manner of speaking he kind of went into the lion’s den. It was mostly speech and his presence that riled folks who are very uninterested in listening. Sometimes Papa may agree with only 10 or 20% of what a speaker says but the concept of violence doesn’t rear up in the dark corners of the mind. In such circumstance I am more likely to conjure up a question/retort of my own while listening. Kids at his rallies didn’t simply sit back and ponder responses to topics. He handed thema micrphone and engaged in back and forth conversations.
Which reminds Papa of high school/college/law school debate teams/sessions. All four boys in my family debated at various levels. It was fun. It was interesting. My entire career as an attorney/judge involved seeing more than one side in a dispute/argument. It would seem quite impossible to form a firm opinion or come to a reasonable decision if studying an issue from just one viewpoint. I remember classmates who were so ridgedly zeroed in that they never understood why they miss hit on certain course grades. If formal debate is not your cup of tea or offered in school be sure to approach your evaluation of political or cultural issues with an open mind. Use the old noggin not fists.
Seek out classmates, teachers and others who welcome open discussions of issues. It is always good to listen to a range of viewpoints. In the process of forming your own opinions and values, an open mind is vital to testing one’s conclusions. If you run into people who don’t openly engage don’t be discouraged. Many are so set in their opinions that they only want to enter discussions as a way to affirm their set in concrete views. Our country needs a ton of healing and I urge you to help by speaking calmly without harsh accusatory words for those with differing opinions. Tolerance for others used to be a cherished hallmark of being an American. Foster independent thought and accept that others will be different from you. The world is not going to go to hell in a hand basket if you don’t join 100% with the sky is falling crowd. Let them do the cynical worrying. When others say it’s best not to discuss certain issues in a social setting it may well be that they do not wish to have open discussions but fear that someone will not jump on their one note band wagon “discussion.” No loss there for you.