>>2936532 (lb)
With respect, arguing on principles is a step too far in dealing with opponents. A lifetime in political activism demonstrates that policies, winningly and coherently outlined, disarms incoherent opponents. A commitment to principles comes much later.
Most people can see the inherent benefits in pragmatic approaches to policy, because they’re not irretrievably committed to principles in their own political worldview. This is the chink in their armor.
Everything in life seems to work better on a stepwise basis. That how we win our relationship partners. That’s how we establish and develop our careers.
Being transparent in essentials that connect with others says more about us than a manifesto. Be what you believe and you will win others by way of your consistency.
Right now, where those on the side of liberty are calumnied on a minute by minute basis, our best method of standing our ground is by demonstrating that we are not monsters; we’re ordinary people like anyone else; and we truly desire the best for all our neighbors.
It’s hard for anyone to sustain calling you a Nazi, a bigot, a white supremacist, or any of the other Alinskyite epithets, if your primary orientation is towards the betterment of the lives of every American citizen, without distinction.
Dear fren: one can think too much about adverse statistics. But it will only make you resentful. I don’t say that’s its unjustified; merely that it’s unhelpfulif you want to be an agent of change.
Take everyone you meet as a opportunity. Put your preconceptions to one side. And do your best to relate to the person. It won’t always work out and you must always be aware that shit can head your way. But don’t be put off by the negative possibilities. Be aware that blacks have been programmed to be highly suspicious of whites by those who control the media. The same is also true of many folks of Hispanic origin. But understand that many blacks and Hispanics don’t interact with whites very often, and when they do it’s within institutional settings that don’t necessarily help in building relationships. You had black friends as a kid. So did I. We didn’t make a big deal of it then. You might need to be a little more circumspect as an adult, but being strong and fair and reasonable works at the subconscious level. Being genuine and giving a shit about others is the way to attack the negative programming. Don’t blame the person; blame the system. That is what we must break. Only human to human interaction can destroy the engineered divisions.