Freedom Thought And Political Discourse

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In Regard To Contacts And Information To Help At Standing Rock.

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Here is a little something that goes for both the right and the left in this political season and its tensions. I first began with reading an article on Daily Kos about how "Joan Baez diffuses right wing protest at Idaho concert". Being from Idaho I knew of this event which happened in 2009. But if someone did not look at the date in small text at left of the top and just read the headline, they would think it happened yesterday.

It is so obvious that many are entrenched in their opinions and beliefs to the point that even rationally discussing any issue is near impossible. Changing your mind is a hard thing to do and even harder to admit you have reconsidered and “flip-flopped”. For presidents and political candidates it is often a death knell. On the left it is about much protesting at this moment and from the right they do not seem to understand the need for protesting or its history and power to enact change in societies, even not realizing their vote for Donald Trump in itself was a historic move of political protest. And there are those from both sides who want to “give peace a chance” in all of it. It is truly a Brave New World and forming our opinions don't just come from mom and dad any more.

Personal examples of my mind changing. First example. After 911, I was a member of numerous political chat boards. As a board member and founding member of the Idaho Peace Coalition it was an early morning daily ritual to see what other thought about war. In one heated exchange in conversation about war and Bush I was convinced by another poster that perhaps the best person to be President of the United States would be a high ranking General. A person who knows the horrors of war up front and personal. Perhaps he would be less likely to engage the country in warfare across the world. After thinking about this for quite a while I decided his argument was sound. As a result I had decided if Colin Powell was once again a potential candidate in the next U.S. presidential election and I was going to vote for him. He never got to the primaries.

Second example. In the current debates I have been a proponent of eliminating the electoral collage. As a result I have been reading lots about it's history and pros and cons from many sources. I have been looking for issues in which to engage in a meaningful way. Although I am a full supporter of non-violent civil disobedience and so wish I could be there and at Standing Rock, my physical limitations make it too difficult these days to participate in most events. But in the investigation of the issue of the electoral college I have discovered that I may not be so attached to my belief as I thought I was for so many years. The jury is still out at this point for me.

Anyway, the point is, if we are to move forward we must keep an open mind. Having an open mind is not easy. Some of the reasons it is hard are these. Fear of letting go of control, experiencing changes, making yourself vulnerable and the fear of making mistakes. But some of the benefits are strengthening yourself, gaining confidence and learning to be honest with yourself and others.

It is important to study history and realize that freedom of thought isn't free. From the time of the Pharaohs, to the Greeks to the founding of America to the Age of Enlightenment in Europe. The fight for freedom of thought is still to this day a fundamental struggle. The oppression of ideas is at the heart of much political discourse. Achieving unity of thought or consensus in our dualistic world seems a Herculean task.

And the issue of where people get their beliefs is a huge one. One of my heroes is activist Aaron Swartz (now deceased) who was, as I am, frustrated that most people did not have ready access to credible and scientific and scholarly information. My page on this is here. These days I have been pointing out on social media the fact that the majority of news shared is so biased from the right and the left it is maddening. Finding what one could consider “the truth” is almost an exercise in futility. The words of Andre Gide, "Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it." echo in my mind constantly. And Godwin's Law is rampant. I truly attempt it as best I can but so many hardly put forth any effort at all as they spread memes across the internet and post fake stories to “prove” what they believe is true, practicing what Saul Bellow said, "When we ask for advice, we are usually looking for an accomplice." And the Russell's Teapot option is a circular hamster wheel that gets everyone nowhere. My search for reliable news sources has developed into a new page Media Matters at Kether Muse.

This post was precipitated by the discourses I see on Facebook and my fascination of it all. In my morning reading and adding to my website I came upon this book and the following paragraph was taken near the beginning of the book “A History of Freedom of Thought” (Full Text Here) written in 1913 by J.B. Bury who was was an Irish historian, classical scholar, Medieval Roman historian and philologist.

I wish all to think about personal change, open-mindedness and what you wish to do and how you wish to act in the coming months and years. And in closing, as always, my default position is to “seek peace” in the world and inside myself. And I realize so well that at times accomplishing both at the same moment is extremely difficult.

“The average brain is naturally lazy and tends to take the line of least resistance. The mental world of the ordinary man consists of beliefs which he has accepted without questioning and to which he is firmly attached; he is instinctively hostile to anything which would upset the established order of this familiar world. A new idea, inconsistent with some of the beliefs which he holds, means the necessity of rearranging his mind; and this process is laborious, requiring a painful expenditure of brain-energy. To him and his fellows, who form the vast majority, new ideas, and opinions which cast doubt on established beliefs and institutions, seem evil because they are disagreeable.”

Added Info:
Saw this meme first thing on Facebook that I liked.
Also from the same poster a
picture of the Unity Rally in Boise Idaho 11-12-2016

Time Magazine Person of the Year 2011 "The Protester"

Image found at Dan Skogners