"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people". -- Eleanor Roosevelt.
You can usually tell when an idea has impact. The enemies of a great idea will invariably dive down and attempt to undercut the source of the idea, by attacking the person, instead of the idea. You've heard from these small minded people a lot, and especially lately.
Where the idea is the defeat of socialism, the response is "Rush is fat".
Where the idea is resisting the attack on American culture, the response is "O'Reilly is a racist".
Where the idea is the right size for the government, the response is "Gingrich is mean".
Where the idea is the sovereignty of the USA, the response is "Mark Steyn is a fear-monger".
I want you to watch for this, and then ask the name caller a simple question. If we all start asking this one simple question, we can begin to get the dialog focussed on the ideas, and not on the names. After all, it is the idea that counts, and a great idea is better than all of us put together, no matter our faults and personality traits.
The question: "But can you refute what he/she says?" Try it. It is guaranteed to stop the downward slide of the dialog, and might even cause some folks to reflect more on their own faults.
"Yes, but can you refute anything he/she says (Something?, Anything?)?".
"Chuck Baldwin is a bible thumping moron" - "Not really, but can you refute anything he says?".
"Ayn Rand was a godless witch" - "If you say so, but can you refute any of her ideas?".
"Pat Buchanan is a jew hating leviathon" - " Not at all, but tell me, can you refute what he says?"
If they can, then there's a basis for continued dialog. If they can't then it's surely best for the discussion to end there.
No comments:
Post a Comment