The following story seems to somehow fit in here. Dr. Michael Butler was director of the Farm School, the lab school at UCI where Alysia and I taught and met. One afternoon, Michael and I were discussing the cause for tides. We had different explanations and I was zealously arguing for mine. I was sure I was right and I felt pride at anticipating “beating” Michael in debate. In the midst of this fevered excitement, I glanced at Michael and realized he had no concern about “winning” or fears of “losing” the discussion. He was focused on deepening his understanding about the tides. He modeled something higher than “winning”. I remembered that lesson. Several years later during a faculty reunion, I shared that story. In response, Michael said something like: “If you are interested in the truth, then you have an ethical duty to help your opponent frame the strongest argument possible.”
I reflect on this as we move into the mid-term elections. Elections are too often waged like war. The objective is to destroy the opponent, rather than create a discussion of the body politic in pursuit of understanding. The media will amplify any slip of the tongue and so candidates restrict themselves to sound bites.