Winning Words 5/3/10
“It’s dangerous to like someone because they like your biases.” (Sent by Good Debt Jon) Grandson Jason is graduating from the U of M. President Obama spoke at the ceremony last Saturday and encouraged the graduates to explore varieties of opinions for the sake of democracy. Most of us tend to gravitate toward those who have views like our own. Give and take isn’t such a bad idea. ;-) Jack

FROM DMF IN MINNESOTA: University of Minnesota? FROM JACK: There's only one Big House.

FROM SH IN MICHIGAN: The awareness of the dangers of uniformity is exactly why I like the Lutheran church. Out there, in the world, where you get together with a bunch of people who do not share your biases, in many cases you won't find anything really to "hold you together." In Church it's not like that. Whether you've got a bunch of people with different biases or a bunch with all the same biases, you've got these WW to contend with to alert you to danger. With Word and Sacrament, even a bunch of people with different biases and who don't even like each other, can, through Jesus' death and resurrection become a people who prefer to be together and learn from each other because, underneath everything there is the desire for and the real love and acceptance. If you just wait long enough for the reality of being God's children to be in the know. I appreciate today's WW very much and also the diversity of opinions and biases on your blogg here. FROM JACK: I like the way the blog gives another dimension (including yours) to WWs.

FROM LK IN OHIO: Hooray for Jon Hanson!

FROM HS IN MICHIGAN: Yes. That was one of my favorite parts of his speech. Were you there? I was fortunate enough to attend! FROM JACK: That means you have to listen to Rush and also to watch FOX.

FROM HAWKEYE GS: Unfortunately, Obamaman is take and lose. FROM JACK: You are secure in your current view; now dare to look and listen to Rachel and Keith.

FROM MOLINER CF: Why is the other guy's opinion always considered bias? FROM JACK: Try this on and see if the shoe fits....."Bias is a term used to describe a tendency or preference towards a particular perspective, ideology, or result, when the tendency interferes with the ability to be impartial, unprejudiced, or objective.[1]. In other words, bias is generally seen as a 'one-sided' perspective. The term biased refers to a person who is judged to exhibit bias. It is used to describe an attitude, judgment, or behavior that is influenced by a prejudice. Bias can be unconscious or conscious in awareness. Labeling someone as biased in some regard implies that they need a greater or more flexible perspective in that area, or that they need to consider the context more deeply."

FROM RI IN BOSTON: President Obama's suggestion to explore the spectrum of thinking is sound advice, because from what I've been reading, liberal arts education is in decline, as more and more minds are going into "boxes." FROM JACK: I read an interesting article the other day which speaks to your point. It was titled: "Thinking Inside the Box." Too much of that seems to be in vogue today.

FROM LIZ IN ILLINOIS: I like that we can share ideas, and not hold our differing views against each other.
I still maintain the majority of mankind is on the same page: family, health, enuf to eat, safety, peace & freedom, to name a few. Have a fun day! FROM JACK: What differing views?

FROM INDY GENIE: Good one! That's advise I need! FROM JACK: Birds of a feather seem to flock together.

FROM MO IN ILLINOIS: IF you can give and take in a cordial or friendly way, yes. Some make this difficult, as they HAVE to be right. I find myself defending Obama many times, as friends send or tell me ridiculous stories about him which are patently false! Oh well, you try. FROM JACK: Back and forth becomes almost like a game of tennis. I don't play tennis anymore.

FROM LK IN OHIO: Yeah, we've (I've) got to try to remedy that separation, ha! FROM JACK: I've got to work on it, too. The Salvation Army Band plays this song; we used to sing it in Sunday School. It seems to fit with your response and my follow up.
If you bring the one next to you,
And I bring the one next to me;
In all sorts of weather, we'll all pull together,
And see what we can do.
If you bring the one next to you,
And I bring the one next to me;
In no time at all we'll win them all,
Yes, win them, win them, one by one.