It’s become difficult to write articles that are timely and relevant. As soon as I
absorb, write my thoughts, and send emails, it is passé. Every bombshell is
eclipsed by a new bombshell. It just happened.
Durham’s testimony revealed the false accusations of the Trump collusion and the complicity of Hillary, FBI, and DOJ in targeting, creating false evidence, leaking it to the media, creating 2
Congressional investigations, a special counsel, and 2 illegal impeachments. Blockbuster, stuff right? Poof! It became yesterday’s news when 2 credible IRS whistleblowers testified under oath before Congress further confirming and exposing Durham and blew the lid off. DOJ hindering prosecution, US attorneys told to stand down, political extortion, corruption, bribery, bias, election interference…. Hunter and Joe both named.
At this point, 6/23/23 it seems credible….we’ll see. It’s only Friday. Who knows what next week will bring? I decided to write about something else. My political leanings are no secret: pro
life, pro 2nd Amendment, pro Israel, low government spending, low taxes, secure (and I
mean secure) borders, strong military, pro drilling, free market economy, pro Trump. You can’t imagine, or maybe you can, the “discussions” I’ve had the last several years……sometimes quite animated. I’ve changed my approach and I’d like to share.
Ready for the pivot? In this week’s Torah portion (stay with me), a fellow named Korach challenges Moses for naming his brother Aaron to High Priest. (it’s rumored that JFK was a distant relative of Moses). The challenge came at a particularly bad time for Moses. He was polling worse than Joe. He considered resigning but got off the mat and with a dramatic event proved Aaron was God’s appointment, not in-house. He said the earth would open and swallow Korach and his cronies!! And it happens!! Whew, matter settled. Not so fast. We are
dealing with Jews. The people still complained. OK. It’s time for God to take over. He instructed Moses to tell the leader of each tribe, including Aaron, to write his name on his staff and leave them overnight. Whoever’s staff blossoms with flowers is the High Priest appointed by God. OK, OK you guessed it. Aaron’s blossomed.
The obvious question is the earth opening doesn’t do it but blossoms work?! Yup. And therein lies the lesson. When you have an argument with someone, and you are right, and you know you are right, there is a tendency to become animated, finger in the face, smash the other guy. When people are subjected to this, even if your arguments are factual, the natural reaction is for the hair on the back of his neck to stand, get red-faced, dig in his heels, and not even listen. The discussion is no longer a discussion, but a test of wills.
Pre Durham, I changed my response to political opinions. I respond only when asked. Trump is usually the main subject. After the other’s anti-Trump diatribe when he’s out of breath, when it’s my turn, I say “Let’s first agree. Trump is an arrogant, egotistical, womanizing, racist, Russian agent.” He’s now happy….and defused. “Now, I’ll be quiet and you tell me all the bad things he did to this country while he was President.” Silence. 30 seconds later I walk away.
The next year and a half will be filled vehement accusations, finger pointing, personal attacks, red faces, and threats. There will be such diverse media coverage you won’t be able to tell truth from fiction. Will the earth open? Probably not. But remember, a quiet suggestion is always more helpful than screaming and carrying on. We will always have differences. How we resolve them is the key. By being respectful, benevolent, perhaps with a smile, who knows, you may see a flower bloom.
“It is easier to fool someone than to convince them they have been fooled.” -Mark Twain
