Sean Kershaw's Weblog
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June 18, 2007
I'm back: Blogging my June Viewpoint on the civic role of families
Let's start with my June 2007 Viewpoint. I don't have a good reason for being out of touch for so long. But then again no one complained so I'm not sure if anyone noticed.
I'm back -- and eager to do better.
It probably has more potential for comment/feedback than others in recent memory. I hesitated about writing something so personal, but when I mentioned the topic at a dinner, hosted by Nate Garvis, that included people at his "Uncivil Discourse" speech -- the feedback was positive. So I gave it a try.
I mailed the Viewpoint to my sister today. We'll see how that goes.
Posted by Sean Kershaw at June 18, 2007 10:52 AM
Comments
You have touched on the points that are most critical in attaining the common good (however it is defined):
1. Someone has to insist that people who disagree nonetheless have to work together. In your case, your father. In the public case...who?
2. There has to be an awareness that, regardless of disagreement, we will still need to "face each other". In today's public arena, that is not true (at least not for the public at large). People have chosesn to socialize and affiliate with people who agree with them and avoid being with people who disagree with them. This is encouraged and re-inforced by the prevailing "political "leaders"who declare that "compromise" is "fraternizing with the enemy" or disloyalty.
Who will re-establish the social and political expectation that the two parties are going to work together, regardless of personalities or campaign organizers?
Posted by: Lynn Gitelis | June 22, 2007 4:22 PM
Thanks for the post Lynn -- and the good points. In the public realm it seems like institutions everywhere have some sort of role "holding things together". This can't be delegated, even if it's hard.
On another note, I'm thrilled that my sister, (to whom I sent the Viewpoint), liked the piece a lot.
Posted by: Sean | June 29, 2007 5:54 AM