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Elizabeth (Liz) McGean Weist's avatar

As one friend says, "stay humble," something that helps deal with complexity and differences and ultimately, since understanding is often beyond me, letting go

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Onah Celestine Ozoemenam's avatar

This piece is mind-molding and the derivable principles are capable of mending walls and establishing lasting peace. I look forward to the next two series.

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Bob Wright's avatar

I love this perspective. I would add that we as scientists have not been good listeners. We decide what questions to study and fund without asking clinicians and patients what they think are the important questions. We should acknowledge that we are sometimes wrong too.

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Judith Andre's avatar

These themes are what my work is all about.

thank you for your blog.

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Josh Briscoe's avatar

This reminds me of the advice from the book Getting To Yes: separate people from the problem.

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Irv Adler's avatar

Would also suggest taking a look at Braver Angels, a wonderful truly bi-partisan organization devoted to discourse. www. braverangels.org

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Irv Adler's avatar

Very well said! I would add that there is a difference between Discussion, Debate and Diatribe. Both sides are too quick to jump to Diatribe because, IMO, they come to conversations convinced in advance that the other side must be somehow clueless/arrogant/stupid/etc.

Sadly, I often hear people say, "I'd like to have a conversation, but I don't know where to begin." That, as Dr. Galea points out, takes courage too. One last thought: in the past decade, I have learned more from listening to folks on the right than my own circle on the left. Indeed, my liberal views have always been treated with respect by friends/family/acquaintances on the right. But my conservative views have generally been ridiculed by those on the left. Why?

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