From The
Editor
Meaningful Dialogue
Like most of you I pay attention to social media, not to find out what you ate for lunch necessarily, although that can sometimes be interesting— but to gauge things in this game of paintball and in the world. If you haven’ t noticed this country is pretty divided on some important historic issues right now. Issues like gun control, left versus right, free speech and other hot button topics are being debated by the minute every day. You may have also noticed the tone and emotion behind all sides of these issues has generally not been pleasant, respectful or even fair in most cases. Memes misquoting people are being passed around and treated as if they are factual. Statistics are being doctored to strengthen whatever side of a debate a particular person is supporting. It’ s pretty ugly out there right now and many people seem to think that there are no rules to this social warfare. That for some reason if it’ s“ only Facebook dude” it’ s ok to lie, slander, shame and bully people.
I don’ t actually care what side of any of these issues you lean towards— I really don’ t. I don’ t care if you’ re a democrat or a republican or if you own a closet full of assault weapons or a closet full of“ Make America Great Again” hats. And I don’ t care if you walk around with a banner that says,“ We’ re coming for your guns.” I don’ t even care if you want to run for President of The United States and you support communism. I don’ t care if you support gay rights or not, whether you think President Trump is the greatest thing since the invention of the paintball gun, or if you think churches should be taxed or not. And I don’ t care if you stand for the National Anthem or you kneel. These decisions are your right as an American, whether I agree with them or not. Don’ t get me wrong, I am sometimes offended by these things but it’ s still your right to fee how you want to feel and believe what you want to believe.
I also have no problem debating these or any other topics with you as long as you are respectful and as long as you don’ t feel the need to lie, cheat or steal to support your argument. If you slander or lie to make your point I’ m moving on because you’ re not worthy of my time. But a good, honest debate about important issues can better all parties. It makes us more informed, empathetic to the“ other” side and it simply makes us smarter. As the Bible says,“ Iron sharpens Iron.”
So there it is … let the good debates begin. Let’ s have meaningful dialoge.
John Amodea President
Paintball. Media
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