Other Platform addresses
Thu, 2007-09-27 18:21 — mhile
This thread is for platform addresses not listed in the other threads.
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Reaching across the aisle
I really appreciated this talk which included an analysis of the 5 bases for moral decision making and the difference between liberals and conservatives. It helped me understand what has been so far from my understanding up to now: the origins of conservatives declarations and values. Since some of these people include family members whom I love dearly, it has seemed incumbent upon me to try to understand.
Thank you, Kate.
dee claire anderson
Reaching across the aisle and Hope
I too was struck by that point in the platform. One of the things that is critical when really trying to "understand" the people we are talking with - and most importantly for them to feel understood - is to get to the need which underlie the person's thoughts and opinions. Being able to see how the values that I cherish as a liberal are but a subset of those of a conservative made me think differently about how to listen to those individuals (basically the rest of my family). This form of communication, listening for and responding to the underling needs, has wide support in the Ethical Culture movement. You can see examples from other Societies as in the rules for communication from the Northern Virginia Ethical Society or listen to a podcast on Nonviolent Communication from the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island.
One other thing about Kate's talk struck me as well. In the final moments she talked about the cynicism and fear that many of us felt as we obsessively watched the ebb and flow of the 2008 election. I understood her to say that what won the election was hope. And more importantly that we should honor that by laying aside those cynical habits honed during what, seemed to me at least, was an almost endless campaign. That we should lay them aside and feel hope for the future. This idea give me great peace and I endeavor to put it into practice.
Matthew Hile
From vengeance to mercy
While listening to part one of Kate's talk (http://www.ethicalstl.org/platforms/ESSTLPlatform2008-03-09.mp3) I was struck with the statement that perhaps what we need was less justice and more mercy. This would go a long way toward ending a lot of the back-and-forth in today's conflicts. You shoot a mortar into my village and I will drop bunch of bombs onto yours. It is a never ending tit-for-tat. Something in which we would not allow our children to engage.
I'll try to remember that for my life as well - less justice, more mercy.
Athiesm Anonymous
Just listened to the podcast. Eerie how closely some of Lovelady's points parallel my thinking. I once described my position in a nutshell as:
* A god (or gods) that demands worship, allows evil, & punishes non-believers is evil
* A god (or gods) that cares but is powerless isn't worth worshiping.
Of course, Kate managed to say it much more nicely than I did! Very good address, covers the main philosophical points, worth listening to.
Jim Mason
Athiesm Anonymous
For myself one great idea Kate gave me in her platform (http://www.ethicalstl.org/platforms/ESSTLPlatform2008-02-17.mp3) was about "thanks." The only time I miss believing in a god is when I want to be thankful about something. Now, when I have those feelings, I will try and see how I can pass that thanks to others.