"We must go on as a nation, and as families. Of course you still love your uncle, even if he is bellowing about stolen elections at Christmas dinner, just as you love your sister-in-law even while she’s trying to ruin a wedding reception by holding forth on socialist saboteurs. But neither they nor the millions of other diehards deserve our engagement. The sooner we refuse to continue such conversations, the sooner we might return to being a serious nation. " -- Tom Nichols
Tom Nichols is a very interesting guy. He's a Professor at the Naval War College, writes books about things like why knowing what the hell you're doing is no longer considered important in this country, and writes for The Atlantic. He has made a point throughout his written career that he writes not in his role as a Professor at the Naval War College, but rather as a civilian-citizen who is exercising his freedom of speech. Not that what he writes is really so controversial; he just is shielding the institution and himself from people like the Trump administration.
He appears often on CNN, MSNBC and PBS. I caught him last night, and when this particular article was referenced in Veterans Today, I wanted to share it immediately the contrast between media makes me think it should be worth reading for everyone. . It's one of the best arguments I have seen lately for the idea of silence when talking is not a productive strategy. Or, as Marcus Aurelius puts it, "Having no opinion is always an option."
He acknowledges that it's probably going to be hard; we are a nation of talkers, and free expression is kind of in our DNA. Except, when there is no sense to the conversation. Should I find myself on a panel someplace discussing the election, you can expect me to be as opinionated as possible. I don't forsee that happening, by the way. But, why do I want to argue about Trump when I'm buying a cheeseburger or with my neighbor right after greeting him with "Merry Christmas?"
There's an old joke that's really apropos here. "Don't wrestle with a pig. It will annoy the pig, and you'll get dirty." I'm certain that many of them feel the same way about us, by the way. Silence can work for all of us here...