Is it possible to have a positive exchange about politics even when we disagree? Behind every strong political opinion is one (or more) of the five histories or habits presented below. Learning to recognize the WHY of an opinion makes…
Is the space around you beautiful? I didn’t ask if it was fancy or expensive or lavish, I asked if it was beautiful. For example, Ugandans tend to keep their yards swept clean. Even if the space around the home…
When I spar with a boxing partner, we’re careful to wrap our wrists, and to glove-up because, while we are indeed “fighting” and hoping to “win,” we have no desire to actually hurt each other or ourselves. We have respect…
Those familiar with my blog and my work know that I am concerned about the lack of civil discourse in today’s communications, especially in social media. People who claim to be passionate, knowledgeable, and educated seem not to value civility,…
A friend of mine—of another faith—told me that she recently went to her homeowners’ association meeting to confront them about the abundance of Christmas decorations in her apartment building. She strongly argued that this was not an inclusive practice, and…
So, I got punched in the face. No, I don’t mean that metaphorically. My boxing partner and I were sparring, and boom! Okay, it wasn’t hard, it was my fault for not ducking (I knew it was coming), and it…
I find myself becoming a louder and louder advocate of civil discourse, of engagement in conversations where fundamental, absolute disagreement may exist, but so does esteem for the fellow-person. I believe that one can disagree without being disagreeable. The loss…
