“the practice of listening to opposing views is essential for effective citizenship.”
Thursday, May 6, 2010Posted in: American Politics, Barack Obama
“If you’re someone who only reads the editorial page of The New York Times, try glancing at the page of The Wall Street Journal once in awhile. If you’re a fan of Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh, try reading a few columns on the Huffington Post website. It may make your blood boil; your mind may not often be changed. But the practice of listening to opposing views is essential for effective citizenship. So too is the practice of engaging in different experiences with different kinds of people.
For four years at Michigan, you have been exposed to diverse thinkers and scholars; professors and students. Do not narrow that broad intellectual exposure just because you’re leaving here. Instead, seek to expand it. If you grew up in a big city, spend some time with some who grew up in a rural town. If you find yourself only hanging around with people of your race or your ethnicity or your religion, broaden your circle to include people who’ve had different backgrounds and life experiences. You’ll learn what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoes, and in the process, you’ll help make this democracy work,” – President Obama.
Via Andrew Sullivan’s Daily Dish
By the way, IT’S ELECTION DAY IN BRITAIN TODAY!!!
MichelleR
May 6
10:43 am
I’m on vacation in D.C. right now and it’s been amazing and quite moving. The tour guides make rather innocuous and expected jokes about the way things are run, but it really honors the idea of this country in a back-handed way — that tour guides and average folks can talk about the bums up on the hill and the bums can’t do a thing about it. 🙂
As to the main point, the Obama quote, absolutely. I try to get my information from a variety of sources and I try to understand and respect folks who see the world a different way, while confessing that this does not extend to the vein of bigotry and willful ignorance thats going around.
Shiloh Walker
May 6
11:34 am
It’s a very powerful quote, very powerful.
Melissa Blue
May 6
6:22 pm
This quote is why I love Bill Maher’s show.
Sidenote: I saw your tweet the other day about the difference in length of campaigning here and in the UK. When do they start beating you guys over the head with it? I live in a smallish town. The ads started in January I want to say. We don’t vote until November. It all becomes white noise once exposed to it for so long.
Karen Scott
May 6
9:20 pm
@MichelleR The election campaign has only been going on for one month and that’s been quite enough!
Karen Scott
May 6
9:26 pm
Erm that last comment was for Melissa Blue!
Melissa Blue
May 6
10:30 pm
Lol. I figured it was. Have to say I’m envious. Maybe I should move to the UK.