Questions

Often, I listen to Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon, political pundits on CNN.  More often than not, I agree with their perspectives.  However, they preach to the choir.  I may occasionally gain a new insight but, for the most part, I have the same opinions when I turn them off as when I turned them on.  Furthermore, I suspect that a hard-core ‘ReTrumplican’, tuning-in, would soon tune-out, angry and unconverted.

I occasionally try listening to Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, or Laura Ingram, political pundits on FOX News.  I usually last about 5 minutes listening to their outrageous, one-sided commentary before I get so angry that I have to turn them off.  They too preach to their choir and they fail to convert me. Frankly, I don’t want to be converted, but I do want to understand.  It is so beyond my comprehension why so many continue to support Trump, that I want to ask questions. I want to understand.

So I imagine myself a reporter assigned to interview the Senators and Representatives that infuriate me, the ones I yell at when I see them on television.  My instinct would be to put on armor, dig in my heels, and prepare to challenge and dispute.  But, to what end?  To embarrass them?  To guide them to an epiphany? To hear them say I'm right? That’s not gonna happen. 

I imagine another possibility.  Suppose, as a reporter, I give up any notion of trying to persuade and instead approach my interviews with curiosity, wanting only for myself to understand why they believe as they do.  I confine myself to questions, not manipulative Socratic questioning, but questions asked in sincerity.  “Please explain to me . . .”

Please explain to me, “Make America Great Again”, what does that mean to you? What is your vision of American Democracy?  If half the population is politically conservative and half the population is politically liberal how does your vision of American democracy accommodate to divergent agendas?

What do you believe are the principles that should guide the future of the Republican party?

Did you really and sincerely believe the election was stolen?  What was the information that led you to your conclusion?  Once the election had been certified by all the state attorney generals and upheld in the courts, did you believe then that the election was legitimate? How do you understand the events of January 6th?

I would try to listen, try to understand, when necessary ask for clarification, and try not to debate.

It doesn't work to be 'right'. It doesn't work to argue.  It doesn't work to recite facts. Before I can expect someone to listen and learn, I must listen and be open to learning.  And should opinions not change, understanding the perspective of the other might lead from animosity to respect.

And, in these times, respect is change.