This really hit home with me as a positive reminder to work to sustain friendships despite our disagreements.
One friend in particular, a retired doctor in our Bible study group, is almost my political opposite. He was one of the first to buy a Prius, gets his news from NPR, PBS, CNN, and the infallible New York Times, reviles (but never …
This really hit home with me as a positive reminder to work to sustain friendships despite our disagreements.
One friend in particular, a retired doctor in our Bible study group, is almost my political opposite. He was one of the first to buy a Prius, gets his news from NPR, PBS, CNN, and the infallible New York Times, reviles (but never watches) Fox News, always votes Democrat. He genuinely wants to understand my points of view, and we’ve sat down with coffee several times to discuss our differences civilly. Recently, however, I’ve asked myself if I’m wasting my time with a man whom I otherwise like, but who believes in dozens of self-proclaimed genders, supports the confiscation of guns, and blames Israel for Middle East unrest. I’ve tended lately to want to avoid people, like him, whom I believe are unmoored from reality and common sense. Life’s too short, I tell myself; I have better things to do. But this podcast, especially JK Rowling’s anecdote, has encouraged me to redouble efforts to continue exchanging differing points of view with him. Our friendship means too much.
I tried the same ongoing discussion of ideas with an in-law who sounds a lot like your friend. But the deeper the discussions went, the more I found it difficult to overlook the obvious arrogant, authoritarian aspects of the leftist mindset, simply to maintain the “relationship”. I found I couldn’t respect someone who admitted that her philosophy would ultimately require force, because “how else can you get people to do what they should do?”
and that's really what it comes down to. What does the friendship mean to you and how can you best live in it. I'm glad you're continuing to sit down with him
This really hit home with me as a positive reminder to work to sustain friendships despite our disagreements.
One friend in particular, a retired doctor in our Bible study group, is almost my political opposite. He was one of the first to buy a Prius, gets his news from NPR, PBS, CNN, and the infallible New York Times, reviles (but never watches) Fox News, always votes Democrat. He genuinely wants to understand my points of view, and we’ve sat down with coffee several times to discuss our differences civilly. Recently, however, I’ve asked myself if I’m wasting my time with a man whom I otherwise like, but who believes in dozens of self-proclaimed genders, supports the confiscation of guns, and blames Israel for Middle East unrest. I’ve tended lately to want to avoid people, like him, whom I believe are unmoored from reality and common sense. Life’s too short, I tell myself; I have better things to do. But this podcast, especially JK Rowling’s anecdote, has encouraged me to redouble efforts to continue exchanging differing points of view with him. Our friendship means too much.
Thanks.
I tried the same ongoing discussion of ideas with an in-law who sounds a lot like your friend. But the deeper the discussions went, the more I found it difficult to overlook the obvious arrogant, authoritarian aspects of the leftist mindset, simply to maintain the “relationship”. I found I couldn’t respect someone who admitted that her philosophy would ultimately require force, because “how else can you get people to do what they should do?”
iǘe tried that they always throw their hands in the air start shouting and stomp off , cannot discuss things with fanatics
and that's really what it comes down to. What does the friendship mean to you and how can you best live in it. I'm glad you're continuing to sit down with him