Happy New Years - hoping for change!

[4248]

I took some parts of this article and quoted them below. I am hoping for change as I endeavor to change my own habits.
__________________________________________________ ___________

Rod Watson: It’s essential for us to hear the other side.
Bufnews article:

But what about the body politic, which is in greater jeopardy than our overweight populace?

"We could ring in the new year by doing the unthinkable: Resolve to tap an alternative brand of news and opinion. In other words, read, watch or listen to a source we normally can’t abide"

"As painful as it might sound to some, that means reading Charles Krauthammer, listening to Limbaugh and watching Bill O’Reilly, Hannity and, yes, even Glenn Beck. Their followers can be mocked, ridiculed and looked down upon. What they can’t be is dismissed; the health care reform debacle is proof of that."

"Changing the nature of debate in 2010 won’t come from the top down because there is too much money—broadcasting contracts, books deals, speaking fees—to be made by hardening the divide. It will come only from average people arming themselves with rationales they heretofore would never have considered"

"It will come from challenging ourselves rather than conveniently grasping at whatever reinforces what we already believe"

"Our democracy can withstand Pearl Harbor and 9/11, but it can’t withstand the internal threat posed by willful ignorance of what the other side has to say"

Happy New Years

[4248]

So much for change -

[shortstuff]

So much for change -

and the people of this town will be watching is all.