The thing I learned from High Stalinism

There is no one right answer. There is no one future. There is no one utopia.

No matter how I divide things or reduce things, no matter how simple or complex I make the world we will never agree. It won't be because I am right, or that I am wrong. It will be our goals are not the same, nor will be our methods. We should rejoice when we find that we are going the same way, not wonder what is wrong with one another when find that we are not.

Though it's hard, and I will never stop judging completely, I need to realize that people aren't using my measuring stick and what I think is obviously wrong isn't to them. I can only hope that others have the same courtesy towards me, and try not to force me into a future that they feel is best for everyone.

We need the dialog. We need the debate. We need the exchange of ideas, hopes, and dreams. The diversity and healthy debate keeps us strong and growing. Forcing an end to the debate either by declaring victory, choosing not to hear, or trying to avoid conflict and hurt feelings by censoring ourselves is a defeat for us all.

Our strength comes from the very bottom, from the discussions we have in our families and among our friends as well as the decisions of every day people to do something about something. These things, not anything done in the Washington, or the Vatican, or the United Nations, are the things that help the most. Billions of dollars in massive programs can't do as much as friends pulling together to help one another. We don't need big initiatives, even if they do help, we have always needed one another.