Your creative writing on the most important piece of liberty, freedom to speak needs published.
It's a stellar discussion of what an American was given by our founding fathers.
We will never all be the same, in dozens of ways we will be different and unique. But true wisdom sees what they can learn from another or improve their understanding of a issue or knowledge to do something.
Thank you for this. Longer discussions and debate under framework that combining our differences gives us the best policy. Hoping!!
Enjoyed this so much. And on A good note Charlie Kirk had a Oregon student that debated him on YouTube posted video..the Oregon student displayed excellent discussion skill and showed much intelligence and poise in debate without anger.
I completely agree, our differences aren’t the problem; they’re the point. Real unity comes from protecting the space where debate can actually happen.
Cyrus (& co-writers?), I disagree with some of what you've written but certainly not all.
Yet this well-meaning appeal to respectful disagreement is totally tone deaf to the crisis we now find ourselves in.
To even bring up purity tests or blind vows of allegiance as the worst of what our political differences have wrought is pretty quaint at a time when the rule of law is barely keeping American democracy intact.
People who'd voted for lower prices and a better economy have been betrayed and may soon find themselves without health care. Academic curriculums, however objectionable you may find them, exercise something known as free speech. Armed, masked men who refuse to identify themselves are throwing friends and neighbors into unmarked vans with no due process.
Yet you, Cyrus, with a platform you could use to tackle our worries and fears, are using it to campaign.
Ketzel, you’re right, there’s a crisis. But part of that crisis is the growing belief that the only way to fight for the country is to demand total unity within your own tribe. That’s the kind of thinking that turns political parties into purity cults, workplaces into HR battlefields, and friendships into loyalty tests.
Yes, the parties disagree. That’s old news. What I’m aiming at is the idea that even inside the party, the movement, or the community, you’re not allowed to challenge strategy, question tactics, or say, “I don’t think that’s the right approach” without risking exile.
When I wrote about purity tests, I wasn’t talking about slogans on Twitter. I was talking about the instinct to shut people up on your own team for thinking out loud. If we can’t make space for disagreement within our own ranks, then we’re not fighting for democracy, we’re just rehearsing authoritarianism with better branding.
You think I’m campaigning. I think I’m saying what a lot of people are afraid to say: you can love your country, your values, and your side of the aisle, and still say, “No, I don’t think so.”
Doesn’t Much of the problem stem from our two party system operatives weaponizing fear and anger at the other? Dividing us purposefully so that voters choose a tribe to ID with and elevate issues to existential importance to our republic?
You write pathos and humor to balance the truth. Our nation is a melting pot (I mean, who hasn't heard that in school?) and that should right there solve the nation's angst over unity vs submission which is communism or a theocracy such as Saudi Arabia -- not trying to diss ... dis? anyone there but this is nation is a republic and not mob rule which was happening for several years - conform or possibly face imprisonment. The founding fathers (and their powdered wigs) were able to figure it out - why can't we?
Our founding fathers were able to figure it out because they actually cared enough to get their hands "dirty" and work. Our politicians have delegated their power over to bureaucracies and and are very comfortable leaving it that way. They like their power and money. Both sides are guilty of this though there are doubtless individuals here and there who are not ok with it but cannot change it on their own. This push to unaccountability has pushed both sides to become more and more extreme to the point that they are not recognizable comparing the parties to just 30 years ago. Also, our founding fathers were working with a populous that was independant and believed in being responsible for their own actions (by and large) but that is no longer true. A majority of our populace is dependant on the government and thus will not be ok with our leaders making hard decisions to keep our country sustainable in the future.
Of everything you've written, it is this I agree with most. This is the thing about America that is a hill worth dying on. I raised my kids to have values that stemmed from their practical experience from doing the work it took to earn their money, to fix their trucks they bought with their money, and to treat work like a video game, striving their hardest to achieve what they set out to as well and quickly as they could. I didn't tell them what to think, or what to value, I gave them the power to think about the things they learned were valuable, and when they disagree with me (as shocking as that is) I happily allowed them to have their own values and views, and told them I was proud of them for their achievements and their courage to take a stand on what they believed in.
That is the Shining City on a Hill to me, and I learned I could love with all my heart - and that they could love me - men I disagreed with vehemently, and would defend with my life their right to do so.
Asking meaning would be a great start if they had an answer. Usually they veer off into another direction. When asking my brother who professes he hates the USA...WORST country in the world. I asked him what country would he prefer to live in. He quoted me his age. I didn't ask him his age I asked him what country would he prefer to live in....I received no answer. So if a question that simple is hard to answer how would you get them to define meanings? I haven't had any luck.
Your creative writing on the most important piece of liberty, freedom to speak needs published.
It's a stellar discussion of what an American was given by our founding fathers.
We will never all be the same, in dozens of ways we will be different and unique. But true wisdom sees what they can learn from another or improve their understanding of a issue or knowledge to do something.
Thank you for this. Longer discussions and debate under framework that combining our differences gives us the best policy. Hoping!!
Enjoyed this so much. And on A good note Charlie Kirk had a Oregon student that debated him on YouTube posted video..the Oregon student displayed excellent discussion skill and showed much intelligence and poise in debate without anger.
Liz Turner
I completely agree, our differences aren’t the problem; they’re the point. Real unity comes from protecting the space where debate can actually happen.
Cyrus (& co-writers?), I disagree with some of what you've written but certainly not all.
Yet this well-meaning appeal to respectful disagreement is totally tone deaf to the crisis we now find ourselves in.
To even bring up purity tests or blind vows of allegiance as the worst of what our political differences have wrought is pretty quaint at a time when the rule of law is barely keeping American democracy intact.
People who'd voted for lower prices and a better economy have been betrayed and may soon find themselves without health care. Academic curriculums, however objectionable you may find them, exercise something known as free speech. Armed, masked men who refuse to identify themselves are throwing friends and neighbors into unmarked vans with no due process.
Yet you, Cyrus, with a platform you could use to tackle our worries and fears, are using it to campaign.
No, my friend, don't think so.
Ketzel, you’re right, there’s a crisis. But part of that crisis is the growing belief that the only way to fight for the country is to demand total unity within your own tribe. That’s the kind of thinking that turns political parties into purity cults, workplaces into HR battlefields, and friendships into loyalty tests.
Yes, the parties disagree. That’s old news. What I’m aiming at is the idea that even inside the party, the movement, or the community, you’re not allowed to challenge strategy, question tactics, or say, “I don’t think that’s the right approach” without risking exile.
When I wrote about purity tests, I wasn’t talking about slogans on Twitter. I was talking about the instinct to shut people up on your own team for thinking out loud. If we can’t make space for disagreement within our own ranks, then we’re not fighting for democracy, we’re just rehearsing authoritarianism with better branding.
You think I’m campaigning. I think I’m saying what a lot of people are afraid to say: you can love your country, your values, and your side of the aisle, and still say, “No, I don’t think so.”
Thanks for reading, even when you don’t agree.
Another AI generated article. YUK!!!
Doesn’t Much of the problem stem from our two party system operatives weaponizing fear and anger at the other? Dividing us purposefully so that voters choose a tribe to ID with and elevate issues to existential importance to our republic?
All in the service to winning at all costs
You write pathos and humor to balance the truth. Our nation is a melting pot (I mean, who hasn't heard that in school?) and that should right there solve the nation's angst over unity vs submission which is communism or a theocracy such as Saudi Arabia -- not trying to diss ... dis? anyone there but this is nation is a republic and not mob rule which was happening for several years - conform or possibly face imprisonment. The founding fathers (and their powdered wigs) were able to figure it out - why can't we?
Our founding fathers were able to figure it out because they actually cared enough to get their hands "dirty" and work. Our politicians have delegated their power over to bureaucracies and and are very comfortable leaving it that way. They like their power and money. Both sides are guilty of this though there are doubtless individuals here and there who are not ok with it but cannot change it on their own. This push to unaccountability has pushed both sides to become more and more extreme to the point that they are not recognizable comparing the parties to just 30 years ago. Also, our founding fathers were working with a populous that was independant and believed in being responsible for their own actions (by and large) but that is no longer true. A majority of our populace is dependant on the government and thus will not be ok with our leaders making hard decisions to keep our country sustainable in the future.
Of everything you've written, it is this I agree with most. This is the thing about America that is a hill worth dying on. I raised my kids to have values that stemmed from their practical experience from doing the work it took to earn their money, to fix their trucks they bought with their money, and to treat work like a video game, striving their hardest to achieve what they set out to as well and quickly as they could. I didn't tell them what to think, or what to value, I gave them the power to think about the things they learned were valuable, and when they disagree with me (as shocking as that is) I happily allowed them to have their own values and views, and told them I was proud of them for their achievements and their courage to take a stand on what they believed in.
That is the Shining City on a Hill to me, and I learned I could love with all my heart - and that they could love me - men I disagreed with vehemently, and would defend with my life their right to do so.
Thanks!
Asking meaning would be a great start if they had an answer. Usually they veer off into another direction. When asking my brother who professes he hates the USA...WORST country in the world. I asked him what country would he prefer to live in. He quoted me his age. I didn't ask him his age I asked him what country would he prefer to live in....I received no answer. So if a question that simple is hard to answer how would you get them to define meanings? I haven't had any luck.
That’s a fair frustration. Sometimes the hardest questions aren’t about facts, they’re about identity.