often be the result of wilful ignorance and / or a belief that things are black or white and therefore anything that isn ’ t white must be black . Consequently , if the other side can ’ t accept such logic , it must be in the wrong .
• Such a belief that things are clearly either right or wrong leads us to think that in any situation there is a set of principles or rules by which we can make definitive judgements . But such black or white beliefs often come from a leftbrained approach or attitude which wants to narrow things down to ( apparent ) certainties – instead of allowing the right brain to open them up to possibilities and see that many things are actually shades of grey . This view of certainty is , of course , most easily maintained by the more powerful side .
IS THIS HAPPENING HERE TO US ?
If , with a rightbrained openness to possibility , we are prepared to admit it , might we see examples in the following where dialogue and trust appear to be lacking ?
• Some ‘ business ’ people , instead of advocating fairness , appear willing to engage in very conspicuous consumption , while their employees , from whose work their wealth comes , earn far less .
• While the majority here voted ‘ remain ’, the ministers in the biggest party continue to insist on pushing Brexit .
They are entitled to their opinion but in government should they also acknowledge the majority view ?
Also there would appear to be a majority in favour of equal , samesex marriage , but again the biggest party has acted against this and used a petition of concern to prevent such a vote . In doing so are they continuing to uphold what might be seen to be black or white Old Testament dogma against advocates of the openness of New Testament love ?
• While the supporters of our economic policy want to continue to believe that it is the right policy and is cost effective , what evidence there is suggests that it is not and that until we are prepared to question it we will never find the better policy we need .
• While departmental and council officials are supposed to be public servants , there are examples , not least at council level , of officials who seem to act as if they are the masters . It is as if they appear to believe that ,
QUOTABLEQUOTE
There are some people who do seem to refuse to listen - and they will spoil it for the others because - as the Brexit and Trump votes have shown - long unrecognised and unbridged differences can fester and eventually result in unwelcome consequences .
because they have been appointed to their salaried positions , they are professionals who must therefore know more than amateurs – even if some of the amateurs actually have considerable experience and who , while not able to claim a professional status , may nevertheless be experts .
Of course not everyone behaves like that and clearly we do have some very good public servants .
But there are some people who do seem to refuse to listen and they will spoil it for the others because , as the Brexit and Trump votes have shown , long unrecognised and unbridged differences can fester and eventually result in unwelcome consequences .
And a continuing dialogue of the deaf will only serve to perpetuate that .
Where will this go if we don ’ t act to resolve the deep divisions the votes have indicated and the split votes were the result of the divisions , not the cause of them ?
It may be interesting to reflect that the Bolsheviks who did so much harm in Russia were so called because they were at one time in the majority .
Bolshoi means big in Russian ( as in the ‘ big ’ ballet and opera theatre ) and they gained their name because in one crucial vote they had the majority – but that did not mean they were right and it is from the Bolsheviks that we got our term ‘ bolshy ’ meaning argumentative , unreasonable and troublemaking .
But we don ’ t have to go down the route of unresolved difference leading to conflict . Instead we can resolve to talk and it particular to listen : to be open to rightbrained possibility rather than taking refuge in leftbrained certainty .
And that leads us to the other two things suggested for times of uncertainty : looking for opportunities and being ready to take them – and in this context especially we need to find and take opportunities for dialogue .
If we can recognise where we are and where we want to be , then we also need to do things that might get us there .
Closing our eyes and ears to the situation and hoping it will go away won ’ t help .
So , instead of following the soothsayers and other ‘ forecasters ’ in attempting to guess the unpredictable , why don ’ t we follow the other New Year tradition and make , and try to keep , a relevant resolution ?
Should we now resolve to be more aware of the disconnects between us and to try where we can to reduce them ?
Instead of attempting to forecast what will happen or , more likely , waiting for someone else to tell us , probably incorrectly , what they think is going to happen – should we get started and , where we can , help to shape the future we want .
Of course it will not be easy but we can at least try listening instead of dictating and opening our minds rather than closing them .
We should be looking for what unites us , not what divides us , and for ways to see the other side ’ s point of view .
Can we all respond to Cromwell ’ s famous plea : “ I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken ”?
So that is my New Year suggestion : don ’ t predict , resolve and resolve to try to resolve differences because that is the way to a better future .
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