Common Ground - Is it possible?
53This is a term that has been around for ages.
Web definition: a basis agreed to by all parties for reaching a mutual understanding.
I used to blog on a website called Modbee.Com which is short for The Modesto Bee, a local newspaper here in the central valley of California. President Obama used this term a lot during his election so one day, in a blog I had written I decided to ask a simple question. Is common ground possible? The overall response to the question was no, it is not possible. I was floored by my own confusion.
I wish I had not deleted my account with the site so that I could share some of the comments here but that may not have been a good idea anyway as a lot of them were downright cruel.
Most of the reasoning explained in the comments were based on either religious or political ideologies. The issues that most were divided on were as follows:
Sexual Orientation
Religion or the decline of religion
Race or cultural differences
Social or financial status
I was floored by own confusion because I could not understand how most of those responding would allow seemingly petty things to separate one another because realistically, none of those issues affect anyone on a personal level.
What bothers me the most is that finding common ground to help solve the problems we encounter in both our personal and professional lives is almost a daily ritual. If we didn't relationships would constantly fail and we would be in a never ending stream of unemployment.
I understand the need and the right to have our own personal beliefs and ideologies but that does not mean that they are right for everyone else. No matter how much we wish it people are not all the same and never will be. I also understand that there will be those few who you will never find any common ground with but to allow a few to affect most just doesn't make any reasonable sense.
The conversation between Pocahontas and John Smith in the 1995 Animated film "Pocahontas" summed it all up in fairly simple terms
John Smith: Savage is just a word, uh, you know. A term for people who are uncivilized.
Pocahontas: Like me.
John Smith: Well, when I say uncivilized, what I mean is, is...
Pocahontas: What you mean is, "not like you."
Clip From The 1995 Animated Film "Pocahantas"
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I have had the privilege of meeting and being friends with people from very different walks of life other than my own. With some I must admit my ignorance of them did not fair well for a very good first impression but as time went by and we were able to open up to one another I realized that besides their unique qualities they were not much different than me.
I suppose this hub is two fold. One is to express my own opinion that I think it is possible to find common ground with just about anyone. Two is that I would like to extend the question once again to those who wish to answer it.
Is Common Ground possible?
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in alot of cases we should be able to reach agreement but there are cases where it will not be possible. such as the death penalty or is child molesting a crime
Agreed Tamara. It's like the term common sense. What may be common to some may not be so common to others. It's a tough question and I realize that. Thank you for your input.
The other conflict is - what is "better"? And who decides what the world should do or become? What one person considers good may not be ideal for another.
Thank you Beverly and Brooke for commenting!
Vapid Maven, even if all people used reason and understanding, opened their eyes and their hearts, common ground would not be possible. It is human nature to push the limits due to curiosity and knowledge seeking. Each of us will interpret the world differently. Part of the problem with our humanity is that we cling to what we were taught as children (like religion) regardless of how illogical and unreasonable it may be, and in spite of how well educated we may become. Most people feel safety in not challenging the unreasonable beliefs with which they grew up. Most people will bend their beliefs to accomodate their real world knowledge rather than to critically examine what they believe. Self interest plays a big part, too. Look how hard Obama has tried to appeal to people's logic and compassion to help the middle class and poor, but the rich (including corporations) keep flashing money to those in control of the media (twisting the truth), getting people to vote against the greater good, or in many cases, voting against their own self interest. I think today, because of the Internet and social media, we have a real possibility at improving the world and understanding between people. So, I guess there is hope.
Unfortunately, I don't think that in some cases, it is.
I think that every person is a worthwhile, precious individual. That being said, I have a solidified definition of right and wrong based on my religious beliefs, and not even a literal gun to my head is going to change things.
Now, I'm not telling other people how to live their lives, but when the government is telling me that I must live my life in a certain way that goes against my beliefs, I cannot comply. One example is that the government expects me to violate my religion in the name of "security" if I want to fly a plane. I will not fly, because I refuse to go against what I believe.
In most other cases, it's simply a matter of other people trying to force me to comply with their way of thinking. I'm sorry, but I cannot do that. I don't wish to hurt anyone, but if it hurts someone's feelings that, for example, I think that Communism will eventually lead to a form of slavery, then I guess then I'm going to have to hurt that person's feelings.
Beverly Stevens 6 months ago
oldhyppy69--"..or is child molesting a crime"? Really?? There's a debate about that?