Years ago, when I was a brash young Evangelical, a Catholic co-worker referred to her priest as “father.” As you probably know, Jesus explicitly said “call no man father,” which I cited along with chapter and verse.
My Catholic friend said, “Wow, I need to show that to my priest.”
That was a pivotal moment for me. Obviously her priest had seen the passage before. It’s not like it was a secret hidden in Martin Luther’s grave. It’s right out there in the open for everybody — including Catholic priests — to read.
That means Catholics have some other interpretation of that verse. They know about it, they just read it differently.
Over the years I expanded on that lesson to understand that when you think the other side believes something outrageous, the most likely explanation is that you’re at fault. You don’t understand what they really believe. You understand some strawman caricature of their beliefs. You need to re-think your approach.
That concept was on vivid display over the last few days. Not only from the media and political operatives. I’ve seen influential business leaders complaining that half the country voted for fascism.
Here’s your clue, people. No, they didn’t, and you make yourself sound foolish by claiming they did.
I might say that the over the top reactions to the election are insulting and alienating to half your workforce — and half your customers. I might say that you should have a little compassion and empathy.
In fact, I’m saying something harder than that. I’m saying that these over-the-top reactions betray a fundamental flaw in reasoning. When you think that a majority of voters wanted to end democracy and bring in a fascist dictatorship, you’ve left the path of wisdom.
If I haven’t convinced you yet, let’s put the shoe on the other foot. Let’s say the election went the other way and the CEO of your company said it was a dark, depressing day, and he couldn’t believe that half the country wanted to enforce a one-party, communist dictatorship that is intentionally trying to destroy the country from within.
How would that make you feel? Would that be an appropriate message from a business leader?
Of course not. We already have the media for that kind of foolishness. We don’t need any more of it.
