Editor,
Sadly, the vast majority of the people with whom I have tried to engage in a dialogue at protests against what Barack Obama is doing, are either not willing to engage in dialogue or simply do not know how to do that. Instead, it seems that they just want to voice their anger about something.
When pressed, they are not able to tell me exactly what Obama has done that they are angry about. Instead, they tell me how Obama has evil intentions and will destroy the principles the Founding Fathers founded this country on by imposing socialism, or communism, on us all. They look at me with a blank stare on their faces when I reply: “If we assume that that is true, how will that affect your life in a negative way?” If pressed, it soon becomes evident that they have no idea what effect living in a socialist state, or a communist state, has on the common people. Also, they are not aware that the Soviet Communist state was not, in any way, abiding by the basic principle of communism. And, it also becomes apparent that they falsely believe that all the common people living in socialist states are miserable.
Their focus seems to be entirely on making noise and attracting attention to their cause — a cause that has no substance. My review of the history of our species informs me that such protests have always been part of the problem and have never contributed anything to the solution. What has contributed to solutions are people willing to engage in dialogues which have as their purpose cooperatively, compassionately and peacefully arriving at resolutions to divergent perspectives that are of benefit for all.
Robert Gardiner
Daily Lobo reader
