Dialogue is Important

What are you willing to say about dialogue or about communication in general? Are you willing to suggest definitions for either? Below are thoughts which come to my mind as I consider dialogue today. Questions are thoughts too aren't they?

Shared meaning is the cement that holds society together. Consider meanings. What is the meaning of meaning? What is the meaning of society? What is the state of our mutual understanding of meaning?
Do we agree on what holds meaning for us? How do we share meaning? What are the better ways of sharing meaning? What is the nature of our society?

Have you ever seen members of a group become frustrated as they try to share meaning? Does sharing meaning frighten you? Are you afraid that your assumptions may be revealed and challenged? Others are. They seek a leader or a protector. They may just walk away.

What if a group is so democratic that it has no leader? If the group is very democratic there may be a great deal of equality felt among its members. I seem to be less fearful among those who respect me as an equal. What is the source of equality?

Talk, communication, dialogue seems a principle way of sharing meaning. Democracy seems to be a step toward open speech.

I think that the practice of dialogue skills can support democracy and the sharing of meaning. I believe that I am still willing to accept some frustration in my life in order to support the sharing of meaning through dialogue. There is a reason for dialogue. It is what helps us to to be an us. It is important.

We benefit by keeping in mind how important dialogue is. If we don't, we begin to think and say: What's the point? This is too much trouble, Let's give it up. It's not getting us anywhere.

Dialogue is as important as important as earning money. Without a healthy society money loses its value. Shared meaning holds society together. Dialogue is an effective way to share meaning.

Dialogue is important.

How's Your Constitution?

What do we consider just? I bet you and I could identify some acts and processes that we both consider just.


One of the main reasons the writers and signers of the Constitution gave for that writing and signing was the establishment of justice among them.


What do we agree is just? How do we establish justice among us? What can we do to maintain justice in our lives?


Justice is related to rightness and faithfulness. What is a process that we can name and agree is right. A process is just, in part, to the extent that it agrees with the facts. Where do we get our facts?


When I think of justice I think of fairness. How do we agree on that which is fair to each of us?


How do you and I and the rest of us establish justice among us? What can we do to establish justice? How often? How can we make justice and keep it firm?


Can we learn to speak among ourselves a bit more effectively?




Justice has a lot to do with rightness and faithfulness. How do you and I agree on the right of it? How do we express rightness and our faithfulness to it?
Voting doesn't seem enough.

Between Conservative and Liberal

It seems that Liberals and conservatives haven't been able to agree even on the meaning of 'conservative' and 'liberal.' 


However,......
I believe that I have found one idea wherein they have found agreement.In listening to those who speak in a moderate tone of voice, I seem to be hearing them express the idea that it would be good for us to attend to the long term. They agree that we should give more attention to understanding and planning for the long term.


Well, making time to attend to our long term doings and dealings seems reasonable to me.


If any long term attending occurs, I hope it includes attending to the salary, wages, and well being of my neighbors as much a it does to the manipulation of big capital.


Who's job is it to attend to the long term? Who, among us, is responsible for long term attention to the important?