Thomas Koenig wrote a piece in the National Review on the tribalism and partisanship that he saw as corroding politics in the US. But actually his point could be made about many aspects of life around the world. This need to have as he put it “an unquestioning devotion to a group” the “Us” and “the visceral loathing of them”. It is as he writes corrosive and means that we loose the ability to have rational debates and discussions.
It is definitely evident in much of politics but it creeps into so much more of every day life than that. Social media is awash with opinions and the damning of those that think differently. It certainly drives me away from interacting on social media. I remember fondly some of the debates and chewing the cud I had with friends as a student, quite a few years ago now. Do today’s young feel they can have these discussions and if they don’t isn’t that sad?
I feel fortunate I have friends who I can have robust debates with. We can have different opinions on many things but those discussions I think lead us all to be more rounded individuals because we listen. We may often agree to disagree but at some level have a better understanding of another view and I think all the better for that.
Let’s not become afraid to talk.
Looking onto the Marshes 