Now that the recent elections are essentially completed, can we return to civil discourse in facing the challenges of our nation? And why is this important? Democracy depends on civil discourse between different groups of people and different points of view. It also depends on the discussion being based on “good faith” where the participants have an intention to abide by the facts, the truth, and the aim of reaching a decision that benefits the common good.
One of the problems in reaching these standards in the U.S. today is the toleration of the intolerable. Tolerance of oppressive ideas, actions, policies, laws, and positions serves to suppress democracy and basic rights (free speech, free assembly, opinion) while limiting access to influencing the course of direction of the community, region, state, or country.
Let us be blunt. Some concepts are lies and lies woven together create a myth. The concept of “race” is a lie, as there is only one race, the human race. The superiority of one “race” over another is a myth perpetuated to keep control of economic and social resources in the hands of the “superior” group. Patriarchy is also a myth based on lies about the inferiority of women and females. The myth of gender being binary (only males and females) distorts the reality of the spectrum of possible genders in society. Same with the myth of there currently being a “classless society” where everyone has the same opportunity and chance of financial well-being. The list goes on.
