The Strawman Argument

In prior years, training in martial warfare included whacking away at a straw-fill opponent who took the parries of your swords and thrusts of your spear without counter-attack.  This was the safest approach to handling introduction to warfare at the basic level.  Attack what you can't fear reprisal and you shall live to fight another day.

But face the facts.  You weren't fighting.  You battered the defenseless ... err, make that offenseless foe that fell to your battering attacks without objection.

This is the scope of modern life, opinions that are aired without fears of opposition.  We have become manic at the very idea of having our views rejected that we insulate ourselves with colleagues who see things our way, and all else be relegated to the halls of infidelity.  Scoundrels, low-lifes, opportunists who prey upon the ...  Well, they're bad folk, without a doubt.

It is time for a breath of more serene air.  We believe what we believe, and know what we know.  But we also have ears.  Ears that can listen, using hearts that know our minds, yet ready to hear the hearts and minds of others.  We cannot divide into groups as Tea Party and Occupy, and spend time bantering about the foibles of the others.  One, it's argumentation at its worse, more of a milling about and gossiping.  Two, it makes me long for the days when Point-Counterpoint was a longed for feature in my week, when Fitzpatrick and von Hoffmann declared their positions, neither side attacking, but offering a moment to consider one, then two points to consider.  And finally, allow the decision to the listener, for he has given the consideration of listening, not reacting to political rabble-rousing.

I enjoy Saturday mornings by listening to a radio show in the UK called Unbelievable?  This is the show that gets believers and unbelievers to come together to talk about the convictions that drive each side, whatever the issue.  This ability to dialogue has been lost to the weak and cowardly attacking of the build-for-the-moment, destroy-to-feel-vindicated strawman.  It is time for the courage of convictions

Speak our minds.  But consider the feelings and convictions of our fellow man/woman whose only (non)crime is to be of an entirely different opinion.  Are we that brave?