From the Lefthand Corner: Learning to listen, and listening to learn

Learning to listen and listening to learn. We need both - a lot of both.

We talk and we listen in varying amounts and ways. We are told early on, and reminded quite often, that our learning comes when we are listening, not when we are talking.

As a youngster, I believe it was agreed upon by most around me that I was a rebellious little brat. That circumstance was not helped by a physical hearing impairment even then. So, I didn’t listen any more than necessary to get by.

Over the years, with some effort at learning to listen better, there have probably been more misses than hits. Now, in declining years, with physical hearing worse than ever, I do try to listen better, leaving room for the other side and the many other points of view.

I used to listen to Limbaugh quite often on daytime radio, but I could only take his arrogance for a short time. Sean Hannity, or one of the others, should be a little easier to take.

I took a cue from my conservative compatriot’s column of a month or so ago and have upped my Fox Channel 9 watching to equal the other network news programs.

I have certainly agreed with Peter whenever he expresses a desire for fact-based reporting; for facts to support the many opinions we espouse. Last week, he sort of went off the deep end the other way.

He says, “For many years, virtually all the major media organs have been at the forefront of the voices working for liberal progressive causes.”

What Echoland does he live in?

Historically, didn’t the Hearst empire encompass the most and biggest print media of the western U.S.? Didn’t the Cowles cover Minneapolis and its surroundings, and the more conservative Ridders in St. Paul and then Duluth? Then we’ve had as far back as I can remember (not very far) the very Republican Stan Hubbard broadcasting emanating from metro Minnesota, including this area.

Isn’t this newspaper and the Brainerd Dispatch and Duluth News Tribune all owned by the very conservative Fargo Forum family?

Pete goes on to contend that, “At the same time these outlets have done their best to paint conservatives and their supporters as enemies.”

When, where and how so?

Now, in our present polarized political arena, it is as - or more - important than ever that we learn to really listen to each other.

There are some extremes for whom it won’t matter what others think or say, no matter what, but the vast majority of us want a better, safer and improved America. We just have very different views as to what that will be, and how we get there.

The future function of government is ultra-dependent upon how we deal with our differences.

Keep well in mind that America is as sick and tired of Republicans and Democrats bombasting and belittling each other as they are of COVID-19.

Let’s use the just passed COVID-19 bill as a case example as it rolls out.

Constructively criticize and point out the inevitable inequities as they occur. Examine and record what could have been done better, if there is a likely next time of additional major effort in dealing with the pandemic.

Work together to determine the best and fairest ways to pay for it all.

Let’s listen to each other as we go.