Question Yourselves

“There has been a great difficulty in getting anything into the heads of this generation. It has been like splitting hemlock knots with a corn-dodger for a wedge, and a pumpkin for a beetle." -Joseph Smith

I think I'm stating to understand how Joseph felt (in the smallest degree), and so it continues to this day. What is the deal with the hypersensitivity of this world we live in? Why do we take immediate offense and assume everyone is out looking for contention? Why can we not have a good debate/analysis without loosing our heads? Good grief, how would the American Revolution have happened if someone wouldn't have pointed out why the Sugar Act or the Stamp Act sucked?

 We NEED to ask questions. And you know what? We need to be offended! So many of us don't engage any new concept or principle because we become so rigid and hardened in our beliefs. And worse, we don't ever question them! We stick a belief like it's some cardboard box in some upper closet and only pull it out when it is being attacked. But even during an attack, so many of us don't look down at the dusty, broken box we hold and ever question WHY we are defending it. I know what this is like. I, sadly, used to be a Conservative Republican. 

See? I did it again. I offended someone by taking a crack at Conservative Republicans. But my intent was not to simply rag on that particular political persuasion. Now many people who read this aren't' acquainted with  my sense of humor, so let me explain. I realize this was a poor method of motivating a conservative to examine his/her belief system, but that is my motivation behind making a crack at them. I'm sloppy at times with how I present certain issues which are important to me. I get it. But in the debate I want to make my motivations clear and just get someone to stop and ask, "Wait, why do I believe that?" Why do I defend it?" So, my preamble may suck, but my body and summary are often more effective. This happens when the conversation begins. And that's a great start, the CONVERSATION. I just want people to THINK. 

Unfortunately there are usually two closed-minded responses to this: 
1-People who refuse to question their beliefs because they take offense.
2-People who are more concerned with keeping everyone happy.

As annoying as these responses can be, the second one I feel is worse. I took a debate/argumentation/analysis communication class a few years ago for my major. I'm SO grateful for that class. Until then, I did not know how to separate emotion from my debates. The professor taught me how. It wasn't an overnight process, and I still work at it, but I wish more people would take the time. You can have wonderful debates without contention. One problem is, that some people don't think it's possible. They are more concerned with other's feelings and maintaining good relations between everyone. That alone is not bad. Moderation is often needed for sure. But when keeping others happy becomes more important than exposing false principles and practices, then nothing gets done. Things will fester and only get worse. It's like shooting yourself in the foot, or punting a football down the road.

 Some times, you just need to speak your mind and not give a rats crap about offending others. Sometimes, we all just need to talk about an issue and resolve it one way or another. Whether some agree, and some walk away still holding to what they believe, fine. But lets TALK and QUESTION. Unless we do this, nothing will happen. Nothing will get done.

And if nothing gets done, I don't want to live on this planet anymore.