Boston Legal, Politics Unusual

May 21, 2008 – 7:47 pm

united-states-swirl.jpg
Image by TheLawleys

Much has been said about the virtues of tolerance and the practice of respecting the beliefs of others. It is an attitude that many strive for.

I was recently reintroduced to the idea by an acquaintance that liberals are more tolerant than conservatives. Referring to policy and personality, she suggested that conservatives are not open-minded or tolerant of those who seek help (e.g. government) to satisfy their basic needs.

While political parties certainly have a core set of values and political positions, points-of-view and tolerance of others generally vary from situation to situation, much derived from past experiences and future expectations.

On Boston Legal, conservative William Shatner (Denny Crane) is quite tolerant of his very liberal friend James Spader (Alan Shore), and vice versa. I actually prefer to use the word acceptance rather than tolerance to describe this quality of their relationship. Their political orientations and politics are very different to say the least, but their differences bring them together, or at least make the show interesting!

Human differences can separate people as much as they can bring them together; an attitude of openness towards difference can help people move in this latter direction.

What are your thoughts on tolerance, acceptance, or Boston Legal?

Jason Simon
think open, think different

By Jason Simon | Posted in Open to Difference | Comments (0)

Punching for a Conversation

May 20, 2008 – 11:49 am


Photo by piccadillywilson

I sat a table preparing to type, and a conversation of sorts broke out that caught my attention.

“Why the !@%$#%@ are you talking !@%$#%@ about me?” Who the !@%$#%@ do you think you are?”

I peered over to see a girl about 15 years of age starting to punch another girl who remained in her chair trembling, unprepared for the blows, apparently innocent of the name calling attributed to her.

Mothers and fathers swarmed the young teenagers, as the perpetrator walked away to avoid further confrontation. She soon found herself in handcuffs. A smile of satisfaction - not fear - emerged on her face, as her friends took photos from their camera phones.

I watched from afar, reflecting upon my reaction to the fight, and that of others. Ten to fifteen witnesses intervened or at least discussed the situation thereafter, but I was not one of them. I watched and listened, deeply saddened by the intense anger displayed, and my lack of surprise.

At what point does the fist replace the spoken word? When does punching become as, if not more, comfortable than talking? If you have a difficult time communicating with others and you’re going to punch for a conversation, you might as well have fun doing it.

Throw a pillow rather than a punch, and you’re not likely to find yourself in jail.

Jason Simon
think open, think different

By Jason Simon | Posted in Coffee Shop Conversations | Comments (0)

Coffee Shop Conversations

May 19, 2008 – 9:15 am

coffee-conversation.jpg
Photo by pasotraspaso

An attitude of openness towards difference implies the need for dialogue with people who share similar and very different points-of-view. I enjoy talking with friends and strangers about anything and everything at coffee shops, cafés, and other third places - a term coined by Ray Oldenburg in his book The Great Good Place.

I look forward to sharing insights from past conversations and striking up new ones, weaving in experiences and stories with those of my own through Coffee Shop Conversations.

Jason Simon
think open, think different

By Jason Simon | Posted in Coffee Shop Conversations | Comments (2)

Born Different, So Were You

May 12, 2008 – 8:47 pm

fish.jpg
Photo by rnugraha

I was born different, and this was a good thing, so my parents told me. I’m sure that you have heard the same. With a full head of red hair (2-6% of world’s population has red hair), glances from others were commonplace. Older adults couldn’t keep their hands off my curls while those in my age group looked the other way, or had something not-so-nice to say.

Rather than embrace my difference, I made efforts throughout much of my life to eliminate it, to become more of the same.

I didn’t know what a fro was, but I had one until middle school. Buzzing my hair, and bleaching it from time to time was how I moved along through much of my later youth. I wanted to fit in, look normal, and simply feel okay.

I continually made efforts to figure out why my most pronounced difference was frowned upon, why others looked down upon me, judged me for it. I was always observing others (still do), trying to understand their point-of-view, so I could avoid internalizing it fully.

Thinning hair, years of college, intense conversations, and books such as Ishmael (Daniel Quinn), Foucault and Social Dialogue: Beyond Fragmentation (Chris Falzon), and The Giver (Lois Lowry), have steered me in a different direction, an openness towards difference. I have come to believe that it is the quality of difference that humans have most in common. It is not only okay to be different, it is unavoidable - it makes us human.

This is my message, this has become my way of life.

Jason Simon
think open, think different

By Jason Simon | Posted in Open to Difference | Comments (0)

Speak Up, Speak Out, Speak Clearly

May 6, 2008 – 10:17 pm

crying-baby.jpg
Photo by tostadophoto

On our return flight from a wedding in St. Louis, my wife and I were greeted by a crying baby on the airplane. This was not your average crying baby. She cried and cried, and cried some more.

As I sat in my seat, I pondered whether I should speak up, and convey to the parents that it’s okay - no worries. This may have comforted the parents… or could have embarrassed them further. I’m not sure. I often try to anticipate how other people will respond to words I sometimes don’t end up saying. This hasn’t gotten me in trouble, but that isn’t necessarily a good thing. Sometimes you’re better off to speak up, speak out, and of course speak clearly.

Jason Simon
think open, think different

By Jason Simon | Posted in Open to Difference | Comments (2)