Peggy Noonan's Remarkable Words OR Red Friends, Blue Friends, Part II
Peggy Noonan said something remarkable on the radio this morning. Before I tell you what it was, here's a brief background on Peggy Noonan:
She is currently a columnist for The Wall Street Journal and a frequent commentator on broadcast and cable television, but she was also a primary speech writer and Special Assistant to President Reagan. Later, Peggy Noonan coined many terms made famous by then-Vice President George H.W. Bush, including "a thousand points of light," and "a kinder, gentler nation." She is famous for the "Read my lips; no new taxes" speech that Bush gave when accepting his nomination in 1988. Peggy Noonan is a Reagan-conservative.
My friends know that I don't shy away from a political conversation. I love an informed discussion. Tell me what draws you to the polls, tell me your passion, tell me your fears, tell me your reasons, just don't disparage mine along the conversational journey. This is what makes for a great political discussion. Not a "forward" to my e-mail address, not a fight, not an exchange of unsupported facts. Tell me your heart; I'll tell you mine.
So anyway, I was listening to Peggy Noonan being interviewed on XM Radio this morning. (This particular interviewer was frustrating to the point that I ended up eventually changing the station. This isn't surprising; I think we can all agree that this election season has gotten draining. It's exhausting, sometimes, just to listen anymore.)
But before I pressed the button to flip to the 80's station, Peggy Noonan said these remarkable words:
"We can disagree and still assume good faith."
Her words have stuck with me all day, perhaps because I hope people always assume the best of me. In these last twenty days before the elections, in these discussions and debates and conversations, stand up for your beliefs, by all means. It never feels good to betray your own truth, so be strong when you speak your mind and state your convictions. (I mean really, if you're going to speak, know your facts and speak them well!) But when you are listening, and perhaps not understanding, can you assume that good faith lies behind everyone's truth? Because then, and only then, are you able to expect the same in return.
She is currently a columnist for The Wall Street Journal and a frequent commentator on broadcast and cable television, but she was also a primary speech writer and Special Assistant to President Reagan. Later, Peggy Noonan coined many terms made famous by then-Vice President George H.W. Bush, including "a thousand points of light," and "a kinder, gentler nation." She is famous for the "Read my lips; no new taxes" speech that Bush gave when accepting his nomination in 1988. Peggy Noonan is a Reagan-conservative.
My friends know that I don't shy away from a political conversation. I love an informed discussion. Tell me what draws you to the polls, tell me your passion, tell me your fears, tell me your reasons, just don't disparage mine along the conversational journey. This is what makes for a great political discussion. Not a "forward" to my e-mail address, not a fight, not an exchange of unsupported facts. Tell me your heart; I'll tell you mine.
So anyway, I was listening to Peggy Noonan being interviewed on XM Radio this morning. (This particular interviewer was frustrating to the point that I ended up eventually changing the station. This isn't surprising; I think we can all agree that this election season has gotten draining. It's exhausting, sometimes, just to listen anymore.)
But before I pressed the button to flip to the 80's station, Peggy Noonan said these remarkable words:
"We can disagree and still assume good faith."
Her words have stuck with me all day, perhaps because I hope people always assume the best of me. In these last twenty days before the elections, in these discussions and debates and conversations, stand up for your beliefs, by all means. It never feels good to betray your own truth, so be strong when you speak your mind and state your convictions. (I mean really, if you're going to speak, know your facts and speak them well!) But when you are listening, and perhaps not understanding, can you assume that good faith lies behind everyone's truth? Because then, and only then, are you able to expect the same in return.
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