"Politics Matters." "Elections have consequences." "Words Matter." "Politics are everywhere." "Politics is a blood sport." These are some of the quotes that we hear all the time, and, especially, when close to an important election. Most people love to talk about political matters with a cacophony of voices. Some people say that the presidential election is more brutal than professional football, and with less rules. This election cycle is putting on a soap opera that is better than the most. It is turning into a real melodrama. Quite disappointing when the melodrama is about our future.
In the midst of all the emotions gushing out of the election and politics, it would be wonderful to think through what it all means.
The time we're living in now has become quite complicated. In the time of the ancient Chinese and Greek philosophers, the issues weren't, probably, as numerous, complicated, and intertwined, as now. Chinese philosophers focused on 'the ideal man, harmony in life, or living with Tao.' Greeks emphasized 'human fulfillment, justice, and good life.' Also, they believed in that "The polis was widely understood as the acme of human civilization and the principal domain in which human fulfillment could be sought----the human creation of political life was a cause of celebration of human virtues and practical abilities." Simply put, "Humans thrive in groups," and politics comes with the group.
These ancient ideas may sound naive and innocent, but they should be an important part of our core values. They're the indispensable foundation of "How to Watch Politics." These are the values we should revisit when the partisanship is too intense to make the positive progress or a particular group interest is overriding the interest of the whole.
When we had the second communal dialogue on the topic of negotiation, my presentation covered the three parts to a successful negotiation. Understanding the issues clearly: Are the people ready: Are the leaders wise and able. Since politics is a series of negotiations, the three parts could apply to the politics.
In this election cycle, some issues are veiled, and some issues can cut both ways, positive or negative. Therefore, understanding the issues clearly is critically important. It takes the hard and sustained thinking to achieve. The question is that who is doing this thinking.
The historical baggages all of us carry are influencing what is happening in the world, now. This is making the negotiations and progresses, in some cases, impossible. Some people are not yet ready to take the next step.
Then, there is the matter of leadership. This election cycle has been an interesting study on the leadership. Very interesting, indeed.
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