Respond below discussion post.
I was so impressed with Betty Hart’s TedTalk. Just this past weekend, I was talking to my mom about how I feel as though some members of society these days are so quick to write others off or “cancel” them and how it would be so much better if we gave these people grace. Everyone is brought up in their own unique environment, believing that what they know is right. People shape opinions based off their environment, life experiences, and their parents. Instead of canceling being or cutting them off, why not try to understand their beliefs and what contributed to them? I have always believed that knowledge is power, and we can gain so much knowledge and insight from hearing people out and hearing what contributes to their beliefs. Throughout college, I came across many friends that I did not agree with, whether it be politically, religiously, or morally. These people were my friends and although we didn’t agree on every facet of life, I knew they weren’t bad people. We grew up in different environments and different areas of the country, so it makes sense that we have different perceptions of what is correct. I loved hearing about why my friends believed what they did because it allowed me to understand them better and to have grace for their opinions that I previously viewed as wrong.
When I was a teenager, I thought I knew everything, as most teenagers did, and when people disagreed with me, I just assumed they were ignorant. As I have grown older, I’ve learned to appreciate others’ opinions as a way to reevaluate some of my beliefs and to expand my knowledge on some of these topics. I think we can learn so much from others and having grace for them goes so much further than just writing them off or “canceling” them.
Sources
Textbook: p.224-229, Broderick, P.C. & Blewitt, P (2020). The Life Span (5th ed.). Pearson.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbihoXj0QwM
Canceling cancel culture with compassion | Betty Hart | TEDxCherryCreekWomen