A weblog with random thoughts and reflections on society and ecology.
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Wednesday, March 19, 2003
Dialogue - breaking out of the insular patterns
During the Iraq situation I have forwarded news stories to likeminded people (on the lack of substance to the US view), had conversations with likeminded people, put up lawn signs that likeminded people agree with (and feel supported by) and others get annoyed with, taken part in peace marches and vigils with likeminded people, sought out news sources with views similar to my own (most of the international media and the US alternative media), written reflections here that likeminded people may mostly agree with and others won't, and taken part in Conversation Cafes with likeminded people.
Rarely, if ever, have I had the opportunity to engage in a sincere dialogue with people with differing views. And just that seems to be a significant issue in our time. We too often (a) choose to expose ourselves to that which supports our own views and (b) we choose to interact - especially when it comes to quality dialogue - with likeminded people. In a culture where debates and entrenched positions are expected, and quality dialogues among people with differing views is rare, we have few models for and little access to situations that encourage such an exchange.
A small step in the direction of sincere dialogue among people with widely different perspectives and backgrounds is the Commons Cafe, where people from different parts of society are actively recruited to take part in dialogue. Another, more formalized approach, is Citizen Councils.
I wish there was a news source that was widely inclusive of differing views. One with quality news reporting that honestly represent the strongest case of the different perspectives on a wide range of issues. I have yet to find it - although it may be out there. The closest righ now may be the Google news service, which draws on sources with differing views and from all over the world (although only in English). It is all automated, so no human editors are involved (although that in itself is no guarantee of lack of censorship).
12:03
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