Kathy Maixner, Indivisible Bend Member
I used to think, in political terms, that being a moderate was not the best position to take. Many viewed moderation as a snoozer term. Deemed wishy-washy, those hanging out in the middle were thought to be without any real principles, devoid of deep commitment to any one thing. Meeting someone halfway was viewed as capitulation. An attempt to understand opposing thought was considered almost unconscionable.
Growing up, surrounded by blue collars, I learned the virtues of hard work, honorable actions and the importance of right versus wrong. I also learned, slowly, that not everyone shared my beliefs on good versus bad, up versus down, even left versus right. It was this realization that frightened me: If what I had been taught was only situational or contextual, who was I at my core?
A lifetime endeavor has led me to this point: Where moderation is an acceptable term and where extreme viewpoints are to be questioned and then re-questioned, even if they occasionally crop up in my own head. Ugo Ucho, Licensed Professional Counselor, writes in Psychology Today that “human beings…are likely to embrace any belief that is absolute. This is because absolute beliefs are simple, easy to comprehend, and false positives that offer us a false sense of security.” (September, 2011)
Absolute thinking leaves little room for critical thinking. If a person is absolutely certain that his or her beliefs are beyond question, then staying open to contrary opinions just got quite a bit harder. Contrary viewpoints then become seen as threats – threats to one’s core value system. By way of example, if I’m certain that I’ve been wronged, not accidentally, but instead intentionally, my justification for retaliation just got a whole lot easier.
Do I not have an obligation to ask myself if my opinions are truly beyond reproach? No I don’t. As long as I’m supported by a large swath of humanity, perhaps that’s enough reassurance to stick to my beliefs. I don’t need everyone to see things my way – only a majority – just enough to know that I’ll likely get my way when I want it.
America has become a black and white nation. Middle ground no longer exists. Living in the grey zone, where many people seek to bridge gaps rather than create chasms, appears a distant memory. By choosing a mindset that wants to understand other’s viewpoints, other’s interests, other’s fears, i.e., being empathetic, we run the risk of alienating ourselves from our current support systems including, potentially, family and lifelong friends.
Until we gain the strength to question – until we see curiosity as essential for truth-seeking – until we find the courage to let go of unverifiable or even conspiratorial thinking, we run the risk of being part of a large problem rather than a slice of society that seeks peace for all.
Beyond what we’ve become, what we choose to be is yet to be seen.
