What up what up what up!?!?! Another episode of Ed-vise!!!! And a Foggy Oregon GOOD MORNING to you all!!!
Today’s bit o trivia: Zumbi dos Palmares. Bet you never heard of him. The things they don’t teach in school. He was believed a demi-god of African descent. See, back in the 1600s, he was born as a slave in Brazil. Taught by a Franciscan monk the languages of Latin and Portuguese, he refused to become a subject of Portugal. He ran off to the kingdom (and his uncle Ganga Zumba) Palmares. This kingdom had been in conflict for almost 100 years with the Portuguese. When the Portuguese offered up peace terms to Ganga, Zumbi killed him, took control of the kingdom and continued waging war. Eventually, all good things come to an end and the Portuguese managed to ambush him, kill him and mount his head on a pike as a show of his mortality. Thus, now you see why you don’t bring up politics and religion and the family dinner table
Anyway…
Free For All Friday Ed-vise today
Speaking of politics and religion, I got to thinking while I was driving to pick up some BBQ from a local restaurant, about how to talk with people about, well, politics.
See, whenever politics gets discussed or brought up, it comes from a place of wanting to change the other person versus seeking to understand them. When you try to change someone, more likely than not, they will feel like you are trying to make the “wrong” and they will dig in. Then, the line is drawn and the battles begin. These end up with nothing but hurt feelings and heartbreak.
So, if you really want to dive into it, first, you must come from a position of seeking to understand. Instead of starting with “Why” start with “How.” For instance, instead of “Why did you vote for Person X” rephrase it to “How did Person X earn your vote.” Say it to yourself and you can feel the difference. If you say the Why question, you can feel yourself becoming defensive. If you say the How question, you feel more open minded. Ready to listen and understand. Take away the Why question throughout the conversation and it will be much better received. Who knows, you might learn something.
See, 72 million people voted for Trump. I can guarantee that not all 72 million are racists or whatever other creature name you can think of. Each party is missing something and it is becoming absolutely vital to learn what it is and soon. The politics of Newt, Rush, Hannity and the rest must go. It is not an all or nothing thing. As Simon Sinek would say “it is an infinite game.” I’m just saying
That’s it for today. Take care of yourselves. Check in on each other and remember a closed mouth never gets fed.
Peace
Ed-vise 