by Mary Wakefield Buxton –
URBANNA —
I have two sisters and although we were brought up in a conservative home, all three of us have different political goals, probably related to our careers.
One sister became a college professor; the other became an executive in a drug company responsible for gaining FDA approval for a melanoma drug. I became a teacher, a Human Resource Development (HRD) specialist in a law firm and a writer.
The professor works for economic equality, the scientist works to promote the Constitution and Bill of Rights and I do my best to spread tolerance.
It was easy for me to evolve into a cheerleader for tolerance because writers cannot work without a tolerant society that supports freedom of expression. (Some societies never reach such an enlightened point.)
Writers of opinion quickly learn there are many ways of looking at issues. They also understand the more controversial an issue, the more intolerant people tend to be. It doesn’t take long for someone who doesn’t agree with another person’s opinion to start throwing insults as we see in letters to the editor in the Sentinel.
The next step in an intolerant world is to try to shut down opposing voices (which has been happening since the beginning of mankind.) Lastly, unfortunately, there can be violence against those who dare to hold differing opinions.
I used to laugh at my father, a wonderful man, rock solid in his views, but intolerant of hearing others views. He refused to read columnists who expressed opinions in which he did not agree. “But, Father,” I used to say; “don’t you want to hear what others with different ideas have to say on the subject?” To which came an immediate and emphatic, “No!”
I laugh just thinking about him, that wonderful man. Yet opinion writers can’t afford such luxury as living with iron clad dogma or accepting as truth any “ism de jour.” Hearing other views is important because, not disrespecting my father’s beliefs, humans change, yes, opinions evolve, and that is why history is so important to humanity because it clearly demonstrates changing society.
Case in point: My husband answered his country’s call and served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. But some Americans in protest chose to burn draft cards and even flee to Canada to avoid the draft. The country was as polarized then as we are now in our unfortunate “red” and “blue” America.
At that time it was thought by many that those who opposed the war were “traitors.” (We are hearing that term today as some Americans are now labeling Confederate soldiers defending their homes and families in the past as such.) But 60 years have passed since Vietnam War and we now know of the gross mismanagement of our political leaders who waged that war and we have new opinions. History, the passing of time, reflection of what actually happened in that tragedy, changed us. We don’t use the word traitor anymore.
As I work for tolerance, one sister works for economic justice. This is a hope that someday both the “poor” and the “rich” will be eradicated from society and that everyone will be held by government to the same level. (Except government officials.)
The other sister, however, is worried about the loss of freedom. She is particularly concerned by the emergence of public health power over the people especially in their recent COVID-19 mandates of ordering the wearing of masks and also the possibility of eventually requiring people carry “health passports” before one can travel, enter buildings, mingle with the public and even get food and medical assistance.
Yet all three of us may be chasing pipedreams. No matter how hard we try, we probably cannot do much to change human nature.
It could be there will never be economic quality no matter how many promises politicians make. As a teacher I well remember the sad sight of bullies on the playground each morning stripping the smaller children of their lunch money. The old adage claims that if we all had one thousand dollars today, by next week some would have no money while others would have amassed a fortune.
And tolerance? Do you think we will ever live in a truly tolerant world? (If so, you are ready to begin a career writing opinion in your local newspaper!)
And individual freedom? Look at history. How many nations today know the freedoms Americans enjoy and how long has any nation been able to hold onto basic freedoms? History reports reality: there is always some new tyrant approaching just over the horizon.
But we three sisters will plug along anyway, each pursuing her own goal for society. So, yes, madam, I don’t wear hoop skirts much anymore but if hoop skirts are a symbol for the right to hold differing opinions, you can be sure that I will continue to defend to my last breath the glorious right for anyone to wear hoop skirts in America!
© 2021.
