over the last two years I’ve spent a lot of my time vigorously defending the idea
of my time vigorously defending the idea
of my time vigorously defending the idea of engaging with controversy on college
of engaging with controversy on college
of engaging with controversy on college campuses and it hasn’t been easy often
campuses and it hasn’t been easy often
campuses and it hasn’t been easy often times I’ve faced criticism I’ve had to
times I’ve faced criticism I’ve had to
times I’ve faced criticism I’ve had to deal with that hominem attacks I’ve even
deal with that hominem attacks I’ve even
deal with that hominem attacks I’ve even in several encounters had to deal with
in several encounters had to deal with
in several encounters had to deal with death threats implicit threats letters
death threats implicit threats letters
death threats implicit threats letters and things like that slipped under my
and things like that slipped under my
and things like that slipped under my door and throughout the course of
door and throughout the course of
door and throughout the course of dealing with those things I often tried
dealing with those things I often tried
dealing with those things I often tried to ask myself beyond the sort of legal
to ask myself beyond the sort of legal
to ask myself beyond the sort of legal definitions of free speech and beyond
definitions of free speech and beyond
definitions of free speech and beyond understanding it as an abstract value
understanding it as an abstract value
understanding it as an abstract value what does it mean to me personally and
what does it mean to me personally and
what does it mean to me personally and you know my grandfather passed away a
you know my grandfather passed away a
you know my grandfather passed away a few months ago and so he’s been on my
few months ago and so he’s been on my
few months ago and so he’s been on my mind a lot recently and so I try to
mind a lot recently and so I try to
mind a lot recently and so I try to think back to some of the lessons that I
think back to some of the lessons that I
think back to some of the lessons that I learned from him when I was a little boy
learned from him when I was a little boy
learned from him when I was a little boy I loved spending time with my
I loved spending time with my
I loved spending time with my grandfather he was an excellent shape he
grandfather he was an excellent shape he
grandfather he was an excellent shape he taught me how to rollerblade when I was
taught me how to rollerblade when I was
taught me how to rollerblade when I was four and he was like 82 at the time and
four and he was like 82 at the time and
four and he was like 82 at the time and which was you know amazing to me and so
which was you know amazing to me and so
which was you know amazing to me and so he used to often go on jogs together and
he used to often go on jogs together and
he used to often go on jogs together and he lived in Detroit and he lived in in a
he lived in Detroit and he lived in in a
he lived in Detroit and he lived in in a nice co-op but in a neighborhood that
nice co-op but in a neighborhood that
nice co-op but in a neighborhood that wasn’t so great and so when we would go
wasn’t so great and so when we would go
wasn’t so great and so when we would go on these jogs we would jog through sort
on these jogs we would jog through sort
on these jogs we would jog through sort of different parts of the community and
of different parts of the community and
of different parts of the community and he would tell me to stay right beside
he would tell me to stay right beside
he would tell me to stay right beside him and one day we were jogging and
him and one day we were jogging and
him and one day we were jogging and there was a homeless man sort of sitting
there was a homeless man sort of sitting
there was a homeless man sort of sitting on the side on the curb and you could
on the side on the curb and you could
on the side on the curb and you could tell that he was distraught you could
tell that he was distraught you could
tell that he was distraught you could tell that he was a little he had a lot
tell that he was a little he had a lot
tell that he was a little he had a lot going on and perhaps you could even tell
going on and perhaps you could even tell
going on and perhaps you could even tell that he was mentally unhinged but at the
that he was mentally unhinged but at the
that he was mentally unhinged but at the time I was so young I didn’t know what
time I was so young I didn’t know what
time I was so young I didn’t know what was going on and so my grandfather as
was going on and so my grandfather as
was going on and so my grandfather as we’re jogging he kind of pauses and he
we’re jogging he kind of pauses and he
we’re jogging he kind of pauses and he says Zach let’s go this way and sort of
says Zach let’s go this way and sort of
says Zach let’s go this way and sort of out of nowhere the homeless man starts
out of nowhere the homeless man starts
out of nowhere the homeless man starts acting very erratically and he starts
acting very erratically and he starts
acting very erratically and he starts yelling screaming and he’s making loud
yelling screaming and he’s making loud
yelling screaming and he’s making loud noises and he starts cursing he’s
noises and he starts cursing he’s
noises and he starts cursing he’s talking to himself and I asked why was I
talking to himself and I asked why was I
talking to himself and I asked why was I pop out what’s wrong with this guy
pop out what’s wrong with this guy
pop out what’s wrong with this guy should we call the police what’s going
should we call the police what’s going
should we call the police what’s going on
on
on and he said then and there he said you
and he said then and there he said you
and he said then and there he said you always want to be careful not to make
always want to be careful not to make
always want to be careful not to make judgments about people before you know
judgments about people before you know
judgments about people before you know them before you understand their
them before you understand their
them before you understand their circumstances before you know what kind
circumstances before you know what kind
circumstances before you know what kind of conversations they had at the dinner
of conversations they had at the dinner
of conversations they had at the dinner table before you know what kind of
table before you know what kind of
table before you know what kind of struggles they’ve had to deal with in
struggles they’ve had to deal with in
struggles they’ve had to deal with in their life before you know what it is
their life before you know what it is
their life before you know what it is that they need what it is that they lack
that they need what it is that they lack
that they need what it is that they lack what it is that they want what it is
what it is that they want what it is
what it is that they want what it is that they’re trying to accomplish and
that they’re trying to accomplish and
that they’re trying to accomplish and the obstacles that they’ve had to
the obstacles that they’ve had to
the obstacles that they’ve had to encounter along the way and so then and
encounter along the way and so then and
encounter along the way and so then and there even though I was so young I
there even though I was so young I
there even though I was so young I remember him trying to explain to me in
remember him trying to explain to me in
remember him trying to explain to me in words that would make sense to a
words that would make sense to a
words that would make sense to a four-year-old why it was important not
four-year-old why it was important not
four-year-old why it was important not to judge this this man who clearly was
to judge this this man who clearly was
to judge this this man who clearly was without a lot for acting very
without a lot for acting very
without a lot for acting very erratically because I was very afraid
erratically because I was very afraid
erratically because I was very afraid when I saw it and so I tried to sort of
when I saw it and so I tried to sort of
when I saw it and so I tried to sort of hold on to that memory and to apply that
hold on to that memory and to apply that
hold on to that memory and to apply that to different circumstances throughout my
to different circumstances throughout my
to different circumstances throughout my life in my work with uncomfortable
life in my work with uncomfortable
life in my work with uncomfortable learning I’ve invited two speakers who
learning I’ve invited two speakers who
learning I’ve invited two speakers who have been disinvited one of them was
have been disinvited one of them was
have been disinvited one of them was Suzanne banker she was an anti-feminist
Suzanne banker she was an anti-feminist
Suzanne banker she was an anti-feminist social critic and her main argument was
social critic and her main argument was
social critic and her main argument was that feminism in its current incarnation
that feminism in its current incarnation
that feminism in its current incarnation is a war against men I radically
is a war against men I radically
is a war against men I radically disagree with this radically to screw
disagree with this radically to screw
disagree with this radically to screw that however I believe that it’s very
that however I believe that it’s very
that however I believe that it’s very important to try to understand what
important to try to understand what
important to try to understand what kinds of experiences inform that
kinds of experiences inform that
kinds of experiences inform that perspective on what evidence or lack
perspective on what evidence or lack
perspective on what evidence or lack thereof is it based and to try to get a
thereof is it based and to try to get a
thereof is it based and to try to get a better sense of you know who among the
better sense of you know who among the
better sense of you know who among the American electorate who among our
American electorate who among our
American electorate who among our population agrees with these views and
population agrees with these views and
population agrees with these views and why and so in doing my work with
why and so in doing my work with
why and so in doing my work with uncomfortable learning I’ve tried to you
uncomfortable learning I’ve tried to you
uncomfortable learning I’ve tried to you know frame the reasons why in ways that
know frame the reasons why in ways that
know frame the reasons why in ways that I feel might be intelligible to people
I feel might be intelligible to people
I feel might be intelligible to people in ways that might make sense beyond
in ways that might make sense beyond
in ways that might make sense beyond just saying that free speech is a
just saying that free speech is a
just saying that free speech is a fundamental value in a democratic
fundamental value in a democratic
fundamental value in a democratic society particularly in our society you
society particularly in our society you
society particularly in our society you know when we sort of watch the news we
know when we sort of watch the news we
know when we sort of watch the news we tend to watch one of a few stations Fox
tend to watch one of a few stations Fox
tend to watch one of a few stations Fox MSNBC CNN and what we’ll see is a
MSNBC CNN and what we’ll see is a
MSNBC CNN and what we’ll see is a particular version of events based on
particular version of events based on
particular version of events based on certain narratives and we’re familiar
certain narratives and we’re familiar
certain narratives and we’re familiar with if you watch Fox
with if you watch Fox
with if you watch Fox you know before 2016 you’d see a lot of
you know before 2016 you’d see a lot of
you know before 2016 you’d see a lot of criticisms of Obama you’d see a lot of
criticisms of Obama you’d see a lot of
criticisms of Obama you’d see a lot of criticisms of liberalism if you watch
criticisms of liberalism if you watch
criticisms of liberalism if you watch MSNBC on the other hand you’re going to
MSNBC on the other hand you’re going to
MSNBC on the other hand you’re going to see an endorsement of Obama you’re gonna
see an endorsement of Obama you’re gonna
see an endorsement of Obama you’re gonna see stories and coverage and
see stories and coverage and
see stories and coverage and commentators who support what he’s doing
commentators who support what he’s doing
commentators who support what he’s doing who advocate for him who defend him and
who advocate for him who defend him and
who advocate for him who defend him and protect them and so forth and sort of in
protect them and so forth and sort of in
protect them and so forth and sort of in framing my work with uncomfortable
framing my work with uncomfortable
framing my work with uncomfortable learning I’ve learned a lot as I’ve
learning I’ve learned a lot as I’ve
learning I’ve learned a lot as I’ve progressed over the past two years I’ve
progressed over the past two years I’ve
progressed over the past two years I’ve tried to point out that part of what
tried to point out that part of what
tried to point out that part of what uncomfortable learning is really about
uncomfortable learning is really about
uncomfortable learning is really about is essentially saying if MSNBC is the
is essentially saying if MSNBC is the
is essentially saying if MSNBC is the station that you favor watch Fox if Fox
station that you favor watch Fox if Fox
station that you favor watch Fox if Fox is the station that you favor watch
is the station that you favor watch
is the station that you favor watch MSNBC and don’t try to counter every
MSNBC and don’t try to counter every
MSNBC and don’t try to counter every point just try to relax that impulse for
point just try to relax that impulse for
point just try to relax that impulse for a sec try to withhold and just try to
a sec try to withhold and just try to
a sec try to withhold and just try to understand what is the other side saying
understand what is the other side saying
understand what is the other side saying why are they saying it what is it that
why are they saying it what is it that
why are they saying it what is it that matters to them beyond the technical
matters to them beyond the technical
matters to them beyond the technical terms whether it’s taxation whether it’s
terms whether it’s taxation whether it’s
terms whether it’s taxation whether it’s affirmative action whether it’s welfare
affirmative action whether it’s welfare
affirmative action whether it’s welfare what is the principle behind it what’s
what is the principle behind it what’s
what is the principle behind it what’s the reasoning behind it why does it
the reasoning behind it why does it
the reasoning behind it why does it matter in explaining that I’ve had a
matter in explaining that I’ve had a
matter in explaining that I’ve had a number of students who’ve said to me
number of students who’ve said to me
number of students who’ve said to me well you know Zach that makes sense but
well you know Zach that makes sense but
well you know Zach that makes sense but this particular speaker that you want to
this particular speaker that you want to
this particular speaker that you want to bring I find very hurtful I find the
bring I find very hurtful I find the
bring I find very hurtful I find the language that they use I find the
language that they use I find the
language that they use I find the arguments that they make to be hateful
arguments that they make to be hateful
arguments that they make to be hateful and I think that they are a detriment to
and I think that they are a detriment to
and I think that they are a detriment to our society and I think that for you to
our society and I think that for you to
our society and I think that for you to bring them to this campus is an
bring them to this campus is an
bring them to this campus is an ideological endorsement of their views
ideological endorsement of their views
ideological endorsement of their views in response I say I understand the
in response I say I understand the
in response I say I understand the bringing the speaker is difficult it’s
bringing the speaker is difficult it’s
bringing the speaker is difficult it’s not easy for me to bring the speaker I
not easy for me to bring the speaker I
not easy for me to bring the speaker I don’t agree with probably 93% of what
don’t agree with probably 93% of what
don’t agree with probably 93% of what they have to say however whether it was
they have to say however whether it was
they have to say however whether it was Suzanne Bank or whether it was John
Suzanne Bank or whether it was John
Suzanne Bank or whether it was John Derbyshire the speakers that I bring
Derbyshire the speakers that I bring
Derbyshire the speakers that I bring that I’ve brought to campus their
that I’ve brought to campus their
that I’ve brought to campus their opinions aren’t just isolated they’re
opinions aren’t just isolated they’re
opinions aren’t just isolated they’re not the only ones who hold those
not the only ones who hold those
not the only ones who hold those opinions
opinions
opinions they’re social critics for a reason
they’re social critics for a reason
they’re social critics for a reason there are millions of Americans out
there are millions of Americans out
there are millions of Americans out there who agree with those views and for
there who agree with those views and for
there who agree with those views and for me I believe that at the end of the day
me I believe that at the end of the day
me I believe that at the end of the day what we have is communication what we
what we have is communication what we
what we have is communication what we have is the ability to try to understand
have is the ability to try to understand
have is the ability to try to understand where someone else is coming from to
where someone else is coming from to
where someone else is coming from to step outside of our own subject position
step outside of our own subject position
step outside of our own subject position and sometimes when I say this it
and sometimes when I say this it
and sometimes when I say this it resonates with people they can connect
resonates with people they can connect
resonates with people they can connect with it they can understand it but it’s
with it they can understand it but it’s
with it they can understand it but it’s still too difficult and so then I say
still too difficult and so then I say
still too difficult and so then I say something like I believe that every
something like I believe that every
something like I believe that every student at Williams College should have
student at Williams College should have
student at Williams College should have the opportunity if they so choose to
the opportunity if they so choose to
the opportunity if they so choose to listen to this speaker to raise their
listen to this speaker to raise their
listen to this speaker to raise their objections to make comments to ask tough
objections to make comments to ask tough
objections to make comments to ask tough questions and that if it is very
questions and that if it is very
questions and that if it is very difficult for you to do individually
difficult for you to do individually
difficult for you to do individually perhaps consider not coming to the event
perhaps consider not coming to the event
perhaps consider not coming to the event you know it’s not the case that I think
you know it’s not the case that I think
you know it’s not the case that I think everyone is well suited or that it would
everyone is well suited or that it would
everyone is well suited or that it would be beneficial for everyone to go to to
be beneficial for everyone to go to to
be beneficial for everyone to go to to listen to every speaker that I bring to
listen to every speaker that I bring to
listen to every speaker that I bring to campus I understand that people have had
campus I understand that people have had
campus I understand that people have had traumatic experiences that for some
traumatic experiences that for some
traumatic experiences that for some people listening to a speaker speak
people listening to a speaker speak
people listening to a speaker speak about a very sensitive issue can for
about a very sensitive issue can for
about a very sensitive issue can for them almost be like reliving a trauma I
think that for college students in
think that for college students in America for American citizens in general
America for American citizens in general
America for American citizens in general there are a number of ways in which we
there are a number of ways in which we
there are a number of ways in which we can deal with disagreement a number of
can deal with disagreement a number of
can deal with disagreement a number of ways in which we can engage controversy
ways in which we can engage controversy
ways in which we can engage controversy productively for those students who may
productively for those students who may
productively for those students who may not be able to go to the talk they can
not be able to go to the talk they can
not be able to go to the talk they can read the books they can listen to
read the books they can listen to
read the books they can listen to podcasts like Nico’s you know there are
podcasts like Nico’s you know there are
podcasts like Nico’s you know there are a number of ways in which we can try to
a number of ways in which we can try to
a number of ways in which we can try to step outside of our own subject position
step outside of our own subject position
step outside of our own subject position and try to understand what other people
and try to understand what other people
and try to understand what other people are coming from and so that’s been a
are coming from and so that’s been a
are coming from and so that’s been a part of my my own uncomfortable learning
part of my my own uncomfortable learning
part of my my own uncomfortable learning process is trying to find ways in which
process is trying to find ways in which
process is trying to find ways in which I can explain why the work I’m doing
I can explain why the work I’m doing
I can explain why the work I’m doing matters to me oftentimes I often get
matters to me oftentimes I often get
matters to me oftentimes I often get another criticism and this criticism is
another criticism and this criticism is
another criticism and this criticism is that these ideas let’s take the idea for
that these ideas let’s take the idea for
that these ideas let’s take the idea for one that it is a guy that I invited to
one that it is a guy that I invited to
one that it is a guy that I invited to bring a campus Charles Murray
bring a campus Charles Murray
bring a campus Charles Murray says that welfare does not necessarily
says that welfare does not necessarily
says that welfare does not necessarily help what he doesn’t say doesn’t
help what he doesn’t say doesn’t
help what he doesn’t say doesn’t necessarily help he says it doesn’t help
necessarily help he says it doesn’t help
necessarily help he says it doesn’t help the poor it in fact injures them it
the poor it in fact injures them it
the poor it in fact injures them it makes it their their circumstances are
makes it their their circumstances are
makes it their their circumstances are ones in which they become comfortable
ones in which they become comfortable
ones in which they become comfortable with relying on the government for
with relying on the government for
with relying on the government for assistance and therefore it decreases
assistance and therefore it decreases
assistance and therefore it decreases incentives and it runs counter to
incentives and it runs counter to
incentives and it runs counter to capitalism if you take that kind of
capitalism if you take that kind of
capitalism if you take that kind of argument and you think about it and you
argument and you think about it and you
argument and you think about it and you abstract it it’s very easy to point out
abstract it it’s very easy to point out
abstract it it’s very easy to point out every single thing you’d like to
every single thing you’d like to
every single thing you’d like to disagree with I think that’s very
disagree with I think that’s very
disagree with I think that’s very important I think that part of
important I think that part of
important I think that part of uncomfortable learning is about thinking
uncomfortable learning is about thinking
uncomfortable learning is about thinking through the logic of your opponents
through the logic of your opponents
through the logic of your opponents there are times in which their arguments
there are times in which their arguments
there are times in which their arguments and I want to win those arguments but
and I want to win those arguments but
and I want to win those arguments but there’s other times in which I try to
there’s other times in which I try to
there’s other times in which I try to kind of step away from that perspective
kind of step away from that perspective
kind of step away from that perspective that says I’m right and you’re wrong my
that says I’m right and you’re wrong my
that says I’m right and you’re wrong my side is good your side is evil and it’s
side is good your side is evil and it’s
side is good your side is evil and it’s a battle and I have to win because when
a battle and I have to win because when
a battle and I have to win because when we see it that way when that’s the way
we see it that way when that’s the way
we see it that way when that’s the way in which we view what we’re doing it
in which we view what we’re doing it
in which we view what we’re doing it oftentimes makes us more antagonist it
oftentimes makes us more antagonist it
oftentimes makes us more antagonist it it makes us more combative and I don’t
it makes us more combative and I don’t
it makes us more combative and I don’t think we’re as good of listeners as we
think we’re as good of listeners as we
think we’re as good of listeners as we could be if we simply focused on trying
could be if we simply focused on trying
could be if we simply focused on trying to understand where other people are
to understand where other people are
to understand where other people are coming from this comes from a recent
coming from this comes from a recent
coming from this comes from a recent study done by the Pew Research Center
study done by the Pew Research Center
study done by the Pew Research Center and essentially what the study shows is
and essentially what the study shows is
and essentially what the study shows is that we get most of the information that
that we get most of the information that
that we get most of the information that we have about current events from social
we have about current events from social
we have about current events from social media and from news websites so that’s
media and from news websites so that’s
media and from news websites so that’s the Wall Street Journal that’s the New
the Wall Street Journal that’s the New
the Wall Street Journal that’s the New York Times that’s Facebook that’s
York Times that’s Facebook that’s
York Times that’s Facebook that’s Twitter in dealing with the controversy
Twitter in dealing with the controversy
Twitter in dealing with the controversy surrounding uncomfortable learning a lot
surrounding uncomfortable learning a lot
surrounding uncomfortable learning a lot of the criticism that I’ve received has
of the criticism that I’ve received has
of the criticism that I’ve received has come from social media and so whenever
come from social media and so whenever
come from social media and so whenever I’m talking about the work that I’m
I’m talking about the work that I’m
I’m talking about the work that I’m doing I think it’s always important to
doing I think it’s always important to
doing I think it’s always important to point out that one thing that’s very
point out that one thing that’s very
point out that one thing that’s very different about engaging with
different about engaging with
different about engaging with controversy in this day and age versus
controversy in this day and age versus
controversy in this day and age versus twenty or thirty years ago is that when
twenty or thirty years ago is that when
twenty or thirty years ago is that when you have social media platforms it makes
you have social media platforms it makes
you have social media platforms it makes it very easy for one person to post a
it very easy for one person to post a
it very easy for one person to post a comment that then galvanizes and
comment that then galvanizes and
comment that then galvanizes and mobilizes a group of people or
mobilizes a group of people or
mobilizes a group of people or around a particular event triggers
around a particular event triggers
around a particular event triggers responses response after response after
responses response after response after
responses response after response after response and so when you hear notions
response and so when you hear notions
response and so when you hear notions such as college students are coddled and
such as college students are coddled and
such as college students are coddled and they’re hypersensitive and they’re
they’re hypersensitive and they’re
they’re hypersensitive and they’re intolerant I think there’s a degree to
intolerant I think there’s a degree to
intolerant I think there’s a degree to which those characterizations hold water
which those characterizations hold water
which those characterizations hold water yet however at the same time it’s more
yet however at the same time it’s more
yet however at the same time it’s more complicated than that
complicated than that
complicated than that you know these college students didn’t
you know these college students didn’t
you know these college students didn’t all themselves design social media they
all themselves design social media they
all themselves design social media they didn’t design the world in which they
didn’t design the world in which they
didn’t design the world in which they live
live
live we’re oftentimes you know dealing with
we’re oftentimes you know dealing with
we’re oftentimes you know dealing with the situation’s the cards that we’ve
the situation’s the cards that we’ve
the situation’s the cards that we’ve been dealt the situations that we find
been dealt the situations that we find
been dealt the situations that we find ourselves at and so when we think about
ourselves at and so when we think about
ourselves at and so when we think about the effect that social media has on
the effect that social media has on
the effect that social media has on discourse I think it’s important for us
discourse I think it’s important for us
discourse I think it’s important for us to resist the tendency to just click on
to resist the tendency to just click on
to resist the tendency to just click on or view the articles that we like
or view the articles that we like
or view the articles that we like because part of the way the algorithms
because part of the way the algorithms
because part of the way the algorithms work on Facebook and even on Twitter too
work on Facebook and even on Twitter too
work on Facebook and even on Twitter too is that whatever it is that you like
is that whatever it is that you like
is that whatever it is that you like whatever it is that you subscribe to
whatever it is that you subscribe to
whatever it is that you subscribe to whatever it is that you comment on often
whatever it is that you comment on often
whatever it is that you comment on often you’re gonna see more of that stuff
you’re gonna see more of that stuff
you’re gonna see more of that stuff right and so one of the premises of
right and so one of the premises of
right and so one of the premises of uncomfortable learning is that you’re
uncomfortable learning is that you’re
uncomfortable learning is that you’re gonna try to do something that’s going
gonna try to do something that’s going
gonna try to do something that’s going to push your intellectual limits a
to push your intellectual limits a
to push your intellectual limits a little bit if I love reading Mother
little bit if I love reading Mother
little bit if I love reading Mother Jones or the nation then I’m going to
Jones or the nation then I’m going to
Jones or the nation then I’m going to read the Weekly Standard and the
read the Weekly Standard and the
read the Weekly Standard and the National Review and so when I talk about
National Review and so when I talk about
National Review and so when I talk about the effects of social media I try to
the effects of social media I try to
the effects of social media I try to point out the importance of resisting
point out the importance of resisting
point out the importance of resisting the tendency to just take in information
the tendency to just take in information
the tendency to just take in information that we find confirms our own beliefs
that we find confirms our own beliefs
that we find confirms our own beliefs confirms the views that we hold dear a
confirms the views that we hold dear a
confirms the views that we hold dear a Supreme Court justice Louis Brandeis not
Supreme Court justice Louis Brandeis not
Supreme Court justice Louis Brandeis not only a historic figure but I think has
only a historic figure but I think has
only a historic figure but I think has one of the best quotations on the
one of the best quotations on the
one of the best quotations on the importance of free speech in America
importance of free speech in America
importance of free speech in America that without it sort of the discovery of
that without it sort of the discovery of
that without it sort of the discovery of political truth the meaning of
political truth the meaning of
political truth the meaning of conversation the meaning of dialogue and
conversation the meaning of dialogue and
conversation the meaning of dialogue and the marketplace of ideas is constrained
the marketplace of ideas is constrained
the marketplace of ideas is constrained it
it
it we are to embrace the full meaning of
we are to embrace the full meaning of
we are to embrace the full meaning of democracy the full meaning of what it
democracy the full meaning of what it
democracy the full meaning of what it means to be a citizen then that means
means to be a citizen then that means
means to be a citizen then that means that we have to work through the
that we have to work through the
that we have to work through the tensions that come along with
tensions that come along with
tensions that come along with disagreement that means that we have to
disagreement that means that we have to
disagreement that means that we have to engage with the emotions that are
engage with the emotions that are
engage with the emotions that are inevitable because I don’t think there
inevitable because I don’t think there
inevitable because I don’t think there are any of us in here who can’t find
are any of us in here who can’t find
are any of us in here who can’t find some issue that we don’t find somewhat
some issue that we don’t find somewhat
some issue that we don’t find somewhat more difficult to discuss part of what
more difficult to discuss part of what
more difficult to discuss part of what part of what I’ve tried to do is
part of what I’ve tried to do is
part of what I’ve tried to do is encourage people to not see those issues
encourage people to not see those issues
encourage people to not see those issues as something that we should shy away
as something that we should shy away
as something that we should shy away from or run from or hide from but
from or run from or hide from but
from or run from or hide from but something that we should confront
something that we should confront
something that we should confront something that we should engage with
something that we should engage with
something that we should engage with thoughtfully to rethink our own
thoughtfully to rethink our own
thoughtfully to rethink our own assumptions to test our own conclusions
assumptions to test our own conclusions
assumptions to test our own conclusions and to ultimately strive for empathy
and to ultimately strive for empathy
and to ultimately strive for empathy what my grandfather was trying to convey
what my grandfather was trying to convey
what my grandfather was trying to convey to me on that day when I was just a
to me on that day when I was just a
to me on that day when I was just a little boy was that when you see
little boy was that when you see
little boy was that when you see something that unsettles you when you
something that unsettles you when you
something that unsettles you when you see something that disturbs you the best
see something that disturbs you the best
see something that disturbs you the best way to respond to that the best way to
way to respond to that the best way to
way to respond to that the best way to deal with that is not to simply
deal with that is not to simply
deal with that is not to simply characterize it in a way that’s
characterize it in a way that’s
characterize it in a way that’s dismissive is not to make judgments of
dismissive is not to make judgments of
dismissive is not to make judgments of another person that you wouldn’t want
another person that you wouldn’t want
another person that you wouldn’t want made of yourself if you were in that
made of yourself if you were in that
made of yourself if you were in that situation but is to try to understand
situation but is to try to understand
situation but is to try to understand what are other people dealing with what
what are other people dealing with what
what are other people dealing with what are the experiences that have informed
are the experiences that have informed
are the experiences that have informed their opinions what are they trying to
their opinions what are they trying to
their opinions what are they trying to accomplish and fundamentally what
accomplish and fundamentally what
accomplish and fundamentally what matters to them and why if we do that I
matters to them and why if we do that I
matters to them and why if we do that I believe we can come together and
believe we can come together and
believe we can come together and cooperation from you to enlightenment
cooperation from you to enlightenment
cooperation from you to enlightenment and I believe that on an individual
and I believe that on an individual
and I believe that on an individual level we can’t create positive change
level we can’t create positive change
level we can’t create positive change thank you
”
Be First to Comment