Recently I have found myself checking out Congressional hearings when bored. They have been enlightening, disappointing and, today, engrossing. I was disappointed in their lack of even basic good manners in February. At times the Speaker or leader of that portion of Congress was pounding with his gavel trying to get the members to be quiet during another member's speech. I was amazed by the disrespect exhibited by the members towards each other. There was so much conversation going on at such a volume that it made understanding all that was said difficult. Watching on TV I struggled to hear what was being said because the background noise was so loud. I never want to be in a movie theater with the members of Congress.
I've learned a great deal about who cares about what. It was obvious after watching for several days that members did not care to learn anything new or to keep an open mind for new or different views of facts. I listened to both those I agreed with and those I didn't. I may not have changed my mind but I did learn more about their beliefs and motivations.
I can discuss thing with anyone. Notice I don't say argue. I look for the things we both believe and talk those things as well as the things we don't. We may never agree on the bulk of our beliefs but I find our common ground and show them how we are similar. People focus so much on our differences that they miss our similarities. It takes work to listen with an open mind to opinions you don't believe. It appears our members of Congress are missing that ability. It sounded like an elementary school cafeteria during the presentations. I don't get how they could vote on things they didn't bother listening to. I saw it happen multiple times in the last few months. This could be how things are done but it is still wrong. It doesn't matter who is presenting or what their party is, members should be listening not acting like they are at a cocktail party.
I've had conversations with people who are opposite me on most other well educated but with completely functioning brains? things but still found a middle ground where we believed the same. I'm a person with permanent brain damage, if I can do this why can't educated people with fully functioning brains.
I've learned a great deal about who cares about what. It was obvious after watching for several days that members did not care to learn anything new or to keep an open mind for new or different views of facts. I listened to both those I agreed with and those I didn't. I may not have changed my mind but I did learn more about their beliefs and motivations.
I can discuss thing with anyone. Notice I don't say argue. I look for the things we both believe and talk those things as well as the things we don't. We may never agree on the bulk of our beliefs but I find our common ground and show them how we are similar. People focus so much on our differences that they miss our similarities. It takes work to listen with an open mind to opinions you don't believe. It appears our members of Congress are missing that ability. It sounded like an elementary school cafeteria during the presentations. I don't get how they could vote on things they didn't bother listening to. I saw it happen multiple times in the last few months. This could be how things are done but it is still wrong. It doesn't matter who is presenting or what their party is, members should be listening not acting like they are at a cocktail party.
I've had conversations with people who are opposite me on most other well educated but with completely functioning brains? things but still found a middle ground where we believed the same. I'm a person with permanent brain damage, if I can do this why can't educated people with fully functioning brains.
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