{"id":3022,"date":"2012-02-24T14:17:48","date_gmt":"2012-02-24T19:17:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/beginnersheart\/?p=3022"},"modified":"2012-02-24T14:17:48","modified_gmt":"2012-02-24T19:17:48","slug":"why-cant-we-be-friends-a-beginners-heart-take-on-partisan-politics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/beginnersheart\/2012\/02\/why-cant-we-be-friends-a-beginners-heart-take-on-partisan-politics.html","title":{"rendered":"‘why can’t we be friends?’ (a beginner’s heart take on partisan politics ~)"},"content":{"rendered":"

http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=liq_wYFkMoU&feature=related<\/a><\/p>\n

I wish I could persuade politicians to adopt this song as the campaign year’s anthem… I’m not holding my breath.<\/p>\n

Here’s the deal: I have friends with whom I argue constantly. And a cousin whose political and spiritual beliefs are pretty much 180\u02da from mine. But notice the operative word: friend<\/em>. We try hard to be polite, although sometimes we get pretty passionate. And we discuss everything from education to the environment, from politics to prenatal care. Birth control, gun control, women’s rights, religious fights. We have as many differences as the two major parties, believe me.<\/p>\n

The other day one of my friends — someone who doesn’t share many of my beliefs — made my heart glad. He said that I used evidence, not simply name calling. And I was willing to give him links to my information, not just say ‘research shows…’ (N.B.: I sooo hate it when people don’t have evidentiary support!)<\/em><\/p>\n

When we argue, these other passionate teachers, family members, and friends, I try hard to remember my beginner’s place. I’m trying to learn. Mostly to love, even when my passionate political big mouth gets in the way :). I wish it was a national movement, but believe me ~ I KNOW how difficult it is!<\/p>\n

So here’s my goal of the day: to try to listen more mindfully. And luckily, since I’m having lunch w\/ a passionately logical nephew, that should be easy!<\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I wish I could persuade politicians to adopt this song as the campaign year’s anthem… I’m not holding my breath. Here’s the deal: I have friends with whom I argue constantly. And a cousin whose political and spiritual beliefs are pretty much 180\u02da from mine. But notice the operative word: friend. We try hard to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":398,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[11,1181,1187,262,1254,1253],"class_list":["post-3022","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-buddhism","tag-beginners-heart","tag-britton-gildersleeve","tag-buddhism","tag-buddhist-blogs","tag-kindness","tag-listening"],"yoast_head":"\n'why can't we be friends?' 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