2 minute read
LAST WORD
Henry Siemens publisher
Covid 19 has been one of the hardest things most of us have ever faced in our lives . . . but not for the reasons we might have expected.
There are so many strong feelings. Some people love the government supports and feel they couldn’t survive without them. Some believe it’s creating a welfare state. Some people support mandatory mask mandates and can’t understand why we don’t have more of them. Some are opposed and can’t believe that people would ever voluntarily wear one. Some people can’t wait for a vaccine. Some swear they will never take one.
If you spend a few minutes online you’ll quickly become demoralized. There is so much anger. Both sides are mad. Both sides have their own science that says they’re right. It’s so easy to find support for what you believe. It’s hard not to take to heart the negativity that you read on your social media feed and then get drawn into arguments.
Everyone demands that we choose a side. There is no room for ‘opinions’. We have to take ‘positions’. There seems to be no opportunity for discussion and debate. If I don’t agree with your view, I’m wrong. Not only am I wrong, I’m evil. As a society, we’re turning against each other and it’s sad to see. It’s time we take a deep breath and start to listen to each other again. We are given two ears and one mouth and we should use them in that proportion. If we do, we will actually ‘hear’ another perspective . . . and we may just change our mind if we open it to new ideas and new thoughts. We may grow in knowledge and understanding. We may even find that we can disagree and still be friends.
Let’s get to a place where we can extend grace to each other. None of us truly deserve it but all of us desperately need it.
Let’s show kindness when someone doesn’t deserve it, forgive someone who hurts us, believe the best about someone who didn’t show their best, hold our tongue when someone insults us and most of all, encourage those who are struggling.
2020 is nothing like any of us expected. Each one of us is fighting a battle that no one else knows anything about. That battle becomes a bit easier if we agree to be nice to each other. Let’s help each other finish 2020 strong . . . even those we disagree with.
