I have heard the president called an orangutan, a cave man,
and other unrepeatable things. It is often the same on both sides of any argument.
Many arguments are not against ideas, but rather the people that hold them.
It is easier to savage your opponent, or to shout so loud
that he cannot be heard and others cannot think, than to think logically and
rationally through a problem. Emotions are not good arguments. We must remember
that the enemy of today may be the ally of tomorrow.
Benjamin Franklin, in his Autobiography,
said that when a man walks in the early morning, in the fog, immediately
around him, the air is clear, and everyone else of the road appears to be in
the fog. But in fact all are in the fog. This much is true. No man knows all
the truth, nor holds strictly to it. As feeble human creatures created by God,
we ought rather to attempt to aid each other to find the way of truth, than to
mock others who are bumbling about.
I have read many books claiming to be fair and reasonable
treatments of theological or political issues, however, they make no real
arguments, but rather attack people, talk about how sad and comical they are,
convince no one, offend many, and do nothing but give their compatriots a good
laugh.
One of the founding father’s stated that the heart of the
Christian Religion is the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount. The one
are the commands of the way not to go, the other is the way to walk in. Christ
said that the greatest commandment was to love God, and then to love your
neighbors. It is more loving to help others onto the right way rather than
mocking them for not being on it.
Much shouting proves nothing. It sometimes makes one think
that your opponents must think a great deal of your opinion when they become so
angry when you disagree with them. We must lower our voices until they can be heard.
Matthew 5:9 says “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the
children of God.”
Andrew C. Abbott
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