It's been a while since my last post, but for good reason. I just started a new job on Monday and have been getting our new home ready for the arrival of my family. So things are looking up for me.
As for the purpose of this blog, things have been crazy lately, both in domestic and foreign affairs. Ukraine is looking more and more like the Arab Spring and the minimum wage has been raised for some workers, just to name a couple of the issues facing us currently.
However, I don't want to talk about any of those. Recently, a good friend of mine from Cambridge, MA visited me here in the Lone Star State. Of course, we were having a lively political debate over lunch. Our waitress tried to sit down and chat with us, which is common here. But as soon as she realized the conversation was about politics, she got really uncomfortable and coldly explained that she didn't want to talk about it. Now, I understand that maybe she was in an odd position worrying about her tip earning potential. However, she made a statement that shows a big problem we have here in this country; one that I've touched on before. Generally speaking, Americans shy away from political discourse. Sure, people will talk politics with those who agree with them. But I rarely here people engaging in meaningful debate with those whom they disagree. Furthermore, people rarely are able to be true friends with people of opposing views.
We really need to start engaging each other and finding out WHY we do or do not support a minimum wage hike, or intervention in foreign affairs, or gun control, etc. If we don't, we will continue to be told by Fox News and MSNBC (O'Reilly & Maddow) what "the majority of the American people support." And then an hour later, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert will mock the issues and have the same people thinking its all a joke (I do appreciate the humor, but it's not necessarily good for our country when people use them as a source of news).
It's our job as citizens, to know the issues, know the politicians, and then engage in debate and collective action. No matter what your concerns are (the environment, gay rights, gun control, taxes, economics, war, etc.), how can you fight for or against them if you only talk to like minded individuals, and/or don't get involved in changing things?
So here's the solution... find someone at work or school who is opposed to your political ideology, befriend them, or at least make them an acquaintance, and then plan to have at least one meaningful, yet non abusive, political debate a week.
My friend from Cambridge and I do this on a regular basis. I can at least speak for myself in saying that hit helps me understand the other side. I'm not saying I'm converted, but at the minimum, I understand. And if I want to effectively combat policies I don't agree with, I need to truly understand their origins.
Until next time, stay conscience my friends.
Semper Fi,
Chris Bentley
