Build Bridges

I realize that most people don't read long-form on various media platforms but, given current social conditions, I hope that this is the exception.

Due to large part to current political and social divergences, so many people are leaving social media for good or moving to some "conservative" or a "liberal" centric platform to suit their political tastes. In general, that's simply not a good thing.

To build bridges we need to maintain dialogue and it should be a friendlier dialogue.

Friendships have been lost and families and communities fractured during this election season in the USA. It's a true tragedy when a friendship dies over a vote cast and when it dies suddenly without any discourse.

It makes no sense unless one recollects our nation's history, especially the civil war where neighbor fought neighbor, brother fought brother and a country divided.

If folks leave their broader communications channels to be around people who hold the same beliefs, there are ramifications.

First, we abandon a means of opening or maintaining communication with people who have varying degrees of differences. The exchange of ideas and viewpoints is healthy if done civilly. Also, it's difficult to change someone's heart and mind when you can't look into their eyes; sincerity is not often discernable through a text message.

Second, we send a terrible message to children. That message is multi-fold, retreat out of fear of ideas, abandonment of friends and family due to anger, and loss of trust over text. What kind of future are we setting the foundation for if we are so fear intellectual diversity that we abandon each other.

I have a long history of being intolerant of short form texting in personal matters and a definite preference to in-person engagement with all sorts of people. I tend to go out of my way to meet in person. But in today's world with people accepting "lockdowns" our self-imposed prison means that engagement, now, often takes place on social media platforms. Too many times, a social media is now many people's desired method of communication. Texting generally does a disservice to the message, lost is much of the context and even emotion behind the words.

As a society, we must at least attempt to reengage people with depth and not the shallowness so rampant on social media. Each of us, individually, should do this.

Live by example. Break down that cyber wall, bring down the barriers that alienate us from each other. Stick around on social media and converse as best you can and do it with civility.

Better yet, make a call, or go out for coffee. Messages don't only come in text or the voice but also in the physicality of the person. If you go out for coffee, take off the mask, soak in someone else's smile and body expressions, the tone of their voice. Is their voice melodic or are the words uttered staccato? Are they eyes darting about or are they focused on you during the conversation. So much is lost today due to poor communication. Every word uttered and the manner in which it is uttered is indicative of something and that's an opportunity in every conversation to better engage and understand.

We all have something to learn from each other, no matter one's station in life. Get yourself out there. Diversity of thought is a good thing. Honest, earnest, and civil communication is needed across the board. ?Build bridges, not motes.