I came upon a clip of this in a Baha'i New Year's video created for a community in Winnipeg, Canada. Here's the whole clip, presented by Peter Owen Jones for the BBC:
The Naw Ruz video doesn't seem to be on You Tube, so you'll have to go to me Facebook profile page to watch that.
We're told to avoid discussing politics or religion because it's too easy to offend. But if we do not discuss these things, how will we ever grow AND how will change ever come about?
What is it that offends us amidst these discussions? Is it just about different ideas? OR is it the way we choose to present our ideas, i.e "I'm right, and you're wrong!" Do we equate the ideas with the person?
Is it possible to disagree and still be kind and respectful? I say YES!!!!! But apparently, I'm a minority.
Do we understand that when we tell another human being their politics or their faith is evil, or error, or a lie without respecting their perspective, we insult their individuality? This goes on all sides. It takes a little more time, a little more compassion, a little more wisdom to discuss different idiologies, faiths, or politics separate from the individuals who espouse them. Can we learn to make this distinction? Do we WANT to ???
