“never talk politics at the dinner table”
Sunday, July 4th, 2010
The Swiss bankers and the Roman Catholic Church were complicit in the Nazi regime. These were not terrible people. They were normal people. They closed their eyes to evil or justified it, for the sake of peace or gain or national loyalty. I sometimes wonder (and fear) whether I would have done the same if I had been in that society at that time. It is so easy not to see, not to hear, not to understand, when one’s own peace or prosperity is involved. There have been times, after all, when I have allowed blatantly racist statements to pass unchallenged in the name of good manners, or of just keeping the peace. For so little of one’s soul, or at least a little piece of it, is on the auction block.”
The Reverend Kathleen Damewood Korb
Certain persons in the media have made mephistophelian bargains for power and fame using fear and greed as their catalyst. A few of them have marketed themselves as chosen. Chosen to teach us what God wants us to do. People blindly believe their utterances and it is becoming impossible to sit idly by or “close my eyes for the sake of peace”.
“Never talk politics or religion at the dinner table.” Adhering to that rule makes for a peaceful dinner especially among friends and family with differing political values. Once the plates are cleared and the wine and chocolates or coffee and cheesecake starts a few fists have pounded the table. There are times when we need to discuss and debate, to provide the other side of a point. Informing ourselves, sharing what we’ve learned removes animosity and hatred and misunderstanding. Not talking at all, not sharing likes and dislikes is only useful for augmenting paranoia.
It is always important to challenge hate; challenge it’s source and find it’s solution. When you don’t like the way things are, there is always a chance for a different outcome. Our conversations need to look at all sides and possible outcomes. Are we better off doing nothing vs doing things differently?
When fists are pounding or all capital letters are being typed, chances are a point is being made. Hopefully the point is to liberate us from hate
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