Building Bridges
The words of William Faulkner, who was admonishing a high school graduating class to "Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed," were meant to motivate his audience to speak up for what is right. Decades after they were spoken, those same words have become not only a source of inspiration to me but also a challenge. After all, how does someone who wishes to "build bridges, not walls" (Suzy Kassem) in a world with such diverse—and at times contentious—opinions, share a view that may not jibe well with others? This is a process that I continue to struggle with, and it is my hope that in preparing the words of this post, some of my own confusion, like a fog, will be lifted.
When it comes to diverse views, few will deny that due to the intense political and religious climate in America today, issues are being raised that quickly become lightning rods, often attracting a wide range of comments from those whose opinions run the gamut—from total opposition to unbending allegiance in support of that perspective. More often than not, this creates an atmosphere of anger rather than one of civil discourse.
While I don't want to get caught up in the divisiveness, neither do I wish to become complacent when I see a situation in which I perceive that there is injustice. However, when these issues arise, there are times when I hesitate to speak out because I feel I may not have all the necessary facts, or even if I do, my concern is that my views may upset someone.
It is at those times that I need to recall the admonition given by Thomas Paine when he so eloquently stated, “He who dares not to offend cannot be honest,” reminding me how vitally important it is that if I see a "fire" that could harm others, I need to act immediately to sound the alarm.
Therefore, I am seeking a happy medium as I determine when I should – or shouldn't – open my mouth.
In the end, no matter what the issue may be, there are always going to be others holding opposing opinions. And I want to give proper consideration to what they have to say. Ultimately, however, I need to take responsibility for making my own decisions, as I realize that the view that is best for me may not be best for others.
In my life, I have seen that the benefits of thinking before I speak far outweigh recklessly speaking my mind. I want to live by the truth engendered by the old medical adage, “Do no harm.” I understand that the discussion of certain topics can become volatile—almost guaranteeing that a degree of alienation and division will occur. Therefore, it may be that in those situations it is better to say nothing than to possibly fan the flames of division.
“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion,
but not to their own facts.”
This quote from Daniel Patrick Moynihan has become one of my favorites, causing me to remember that when I point my finger in condemnation of the words or actions of those whose political or religious views do not align with mine, I must remember that there are three fingers pointing back at my own views. Yes, even in those situations, I seek to abide by the counsel of the old maxim, which states that to avoid being labeled a hypocrite, I should 'pull the rafter out of my own eye, so that I may be able to see clearly how to remove the speck from the eye of another.'
This does not mean that we should not voice our concerns, but when we do, we should be thoughtful, seek the facts, and acknowledge that our opinions may not be the final word on the matter.
In the United States, it is our freedom of speech that allows us to air our grievances. Such dissent is essential for a healthy democracy, as it provides a check against the abuse of authority. However, at the same time, we must keep in mind that such critiques should be free from half-truths and misinformation.
So, as I speak out on various issues, I am going to tread lightly. I will do my best to listen to and learn from another’s point of view. I am not claiming that I will live up perfectly to the sentiments expressed above. But my hope is that, rather than fanning the flames, I will do better as I seek constructive ways to “build bridges” with others as we move forward together.
