Board member on fox news last night ??? very O/T

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Posted By: James Feagin

Jeff,

One of your statements evoked memories of a 20/20 special hosted by Stephanopolous (sp?) It was a candid look at "America divided". There were profiles on a "Liberal" city in New Jersey and a "Bible Belt" city in Tennessee, and their world views. With voting patterns, certain districts have trended to becoming having more of a consensus with voting. The analysis was that in this country we tend to be more independently minded until we reach a "group" situation. The extremes in the group will neutralize minority views who can look at "both sides" of an issue. The thought is that as a country we tend to be very lazy mentally. The art of the debate is lost and the "shouting heads" reign supreme. Try rationally sticking up for your religion on a college campus (I did). Alternately, try rationally defending a ban of prayer at school in the bible belt; the lazy shouting head mentality will be victorious. As a country we have all of our media catered to what we believe, so much so, that we never have to test and analyze our beliefs, or attempt to listen to what the other person has to say.

Tonight, I am going to dinner with a very good friend, a former president of the BYU Democrats (A Mormon democrat is very rare). We have a history of spirited debate, but it is never vitriolic, lazy, or knee-jerk. I have no problems with a person who believes the way they choose, even if different from my opinions. The only thing I ask is for them to have a well thought-out position, a reason, and in the end I will respect them more than ever.