The Importance of dialogue, how democrats (and Biden) can lead and how china sees the world
Weekly Ink #17
A weekly newsletter with findings, practical wisdom, and interesting conversations from across the web, curated by yours truly.
Contemplations
Meditations, practical philosophy, and the occasional restless thought.
I wanted to avoid writing about politics again, but the state of things weighs on my mind. This year’s July 4th did not feel like a celebration but a somber togetherness. Did anyone else feel this melancholy?
So, let’s take a slightly different tack: Let’s not look at it as politics but civics and a commitment to virtue. Below, you’ll find several pieces—two op-eds in the NYT and a podcast from the Atlantic—focusing on Joe Biden, his debate performance, why he should drop out, and how the establishment can help make that push. It’s unlikely to happen, but not impossible, and it’s a conversation we must have.
But first…
The most essential democratic act isn’t voting—though that is important, too—but engage in dialogue. Conversation, particularly with those you disagree with, is the bedrock of a vibrant democracy.
Voting is the endpoint of the democratic process. It’s a moment in time when you declare your already-formed opinion. It’s periodic. Dialogue is ongoing. Dialogue is refining and exchanging ideas that help shape your views. Whereas voting quantifies opinion into a simple count or choice, engaging in dialogue allows for nuance and exploration of ideas and concepts, revealing deeper complexities. If all you do is show up to vote but don’t engage in dialogue during the preceding days, months, and years, you are doing the democratic process and your country a huge disservice.
This comes down to a simple fundamental principle: If two parties are not involved in the conversation, they are othering. Othering leads to conflict. Put differently, if we do not engage in dialogue with people we disagree with, if we do not seek to understand perspectives other than our own rather than solely wanting validation for the one we possess, violence between groups is inevitable.
So, don’t just cast your ballot and call it a day; that is the lowest form of democratic activity and the bare minimum. Instead, have conversations, particularly with those you do not agree with, and look not to agree with them but understand how they arrived at their perspective. I will be writing more on this topic in the coming weeks. We must remember to have difficult conversations. If Donald Trump wins the election, it will be a step in the wrong direction, but it won’t be the end of democracy. If we continue to fail to engage in dialogue, it most certainly will.
Insights
Curated stories and ideas.
Opinion | Can Democratic Leaders Actually Lead: David French *nails* it in this piece. I highly recommend you read it. Leadership isn’t just beating the other guy and getting elected— that’s not even leadership; that’s just winning! Leadership is making the tough moral choices on behalf of those you lead; in this instance, telling the truth about Joe Biden in public, not just closed doors. Before the debate, this was unlikely— the potential to end your political career by running afoul of the establishment hierarchy was too great. But we all saw what we saw, and the floodgates opened. However…
Opinion | There’s a Name for the Trap Biden Faces: As I alluded in my piece last week, It is unlikely Biden will step down, and likely Trump will win the election because of it. In this article, the organizational psychologist and Wharton professor explains why that may be the case. Grant lays out how we justify poor decisions to ourselves, how difficult it is to let go of power, and how Biden may be influenced to take a strong leadership position rather than run based on ego.
General Laws of the Rise of Great Powers | The Center for Strategic Translation: This is looooong but well worth the read if you are interested in this sort of stuff! The Center for Strategic Translation takes the time to… well, translate texts from foreign countries published by their thinkers into English. In this instance, they translated a text from some Chinese military scholars and thinkers about rising great powers. My biggest takeaway from this is that not everyone thinks like a Westerner. The CCP thinks and looks at the world in a distinctly different way. This isn’t new, but something often forgotten; after all, we can only see the world the way we see it, and taking perspective is one of the hardest things a human can do(But well worth learning!!!). My first experience with this reality (Which I remember at least and was formative) was when I watched “The Fog of War” in college, a documentary about the Vietnam War. However, this is an example of institutional knowledge exiting DC, as the people old enough to have served die off or retire. Will future DC staffers and Pentagon leaders remember this lesson and let it inform their decision making?
Dialogue
Voices, perspectives, and conversations from our community and across the web.
“People Feel Lied To “: The White House, the Media, and the Joe Biden Blame Game—Plain English: I highly recommend you listen to this, mainly if you identify with left-leaning ideologies, the Democratic Party, or Joe Biden.
What do you think? Please leave a comment on the site or reply to the email. I’d be curious to hear your thoughts.
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