I have a great friend that I admire and adore that feels that the downfall of humanity is upon us. Now, this is no religious belief. She fervently believes that we are doomed because we refuse to take the time to truly listen to each other. We refuse to acknowledge any path other than that we have selected to follow.
She and I were talking today about the Michigan Assistant Attorney General that has launched a campaign of what can only be termed harassment against the student body president of the University of Michigan. She became quite agitated during the discussion and said that it is precisely this kind of disembodied attack upon others that defines our lack of engagement. We are all too ready to believe what we read on the internet, whether it is true or not. We are too ready to be spoon fed an opinion. The lack of critical thinking in the public discourse is the decline of civility. It is the reason we are continually dissatisfied with our leaders.
I have to say that I am inclined to agree with her assessment. When I take the time to stop and think about the absolute inanity that is a public official going after a college student, whether it is on his "own time", as has been stated by the harasser, or not, I shudder at where we are in the world.
Of course, my friend would say that I am perpetuating the problem by publishing this post too.
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