Deseret News | We need to reach out and listen to each other

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John Florez: We need to reach out and listen to each other

Steve | 1:54 a.m. Oct. 5, 2009

Thank you for a very thoughtful column, Mr. Florez. You expressed an intelligent and decent view of things which I found very refreshing and completely agree with. I hope that Americans will step up to the plate and help make things better through hard work together...TOGETHER being the optimal word here ! I am so tired of all the noise and tumult, and hope that the time will soon come for adult and rational debate over the many serious issues facing us right now. All the mindless name-calling has not done a bit of good, and I truely believe we are better than this, and can come together as real patriots to solve problems, help each other out, and model good and responsible citizenship for our children.

e pluribus unum | 2:34 a.m. Oct. 5, 2009

People who call themselves Christians forget the wisdom that you have so articulately expressed.

Speaking the Truth with Civility | 7:10 a.m. Oct. 5, 2009

We've heard the modern platitudes of 'progressives' for generations now and they have had plenty of time to experiment with the "Great Society" and the unconstitutional innovations of FDR etc.

The problem, as I see it, is how to oppose them and still keep a civil tongue in my head, as the saying goes.

I think Joseph Smith had the answer. In the following excerpt from a letter to a presidential candidate, Henry Clay, May 13 1844, he definitely speaks his mind. At the same time he remembers the social niceties in the very polite way he closes his epistle.

"I mourn for the depravity of the world; I despise the hypocrisy of Christendom; I hate the imbecility of American statesmen; I detest the shrinkage of candidates for office from pledges and responsibility; I long for a day of righteousness.... and I pray God, who hath given our fathers a promise of a perfect government in the last days, to purify the hearts of the people and hasten the welcome day.

With the highest consideration for virtue and unadulterated freedom,

I have the honor to be,
Your obedient servant,
Joseph Smith

[Views on the Policy of the Gov....]

Comments continue below

Billy | 8:04 a.m. Oct. 5, 2009

This nation is filled with CINOs - Christians In Name Only. Not to mention assorted other human-all-too-human humanoids. Great fun isn't it?

jeanne | 8:15 a.m. Oct. 5, 2009

It is unfortunely true that too often civility has fallen victim to partisanship but hasn't the rule of law too often fallen victim to unrealistic ideology? Certainly we should be able to live and enforce the rule of law without being ugly about it or partryed as such.

Brother Chuck Schroeder | 8:55 a.m. Oct. 5, 2009

Richest Nation on Earth. The Republican Healthcare plan, if you get sick, die quick. Or ask President Obama to beg Forbes 400 poor billionaires to buy you a over the counter minimum requirement of two Bayer Aspirin because of the recession. That'll help relieve the pain and reduce the risks of heart attack and stroke, you all are seeming to be having these days. And if you get better, we'll see you at the Hugh Hefner Playboy Mansion for one of Hefner's lavish GOP fundraising parties and call it a town hall meeting without the wife, with a wide variety of Fundraising Products tools and Ideas for all types. Then you'll be ready and empowered to elect or designate in the 2010 re-election as our personal puppet and true constituent. Rush Limbaugh told us the impact the Democrats' health care reform bill could have on state budgets. He thinks the legislation would permanently expand Medicaid, increasing the financial burden to states and removing the ability of individual states to determine guidelines for eligibility based on state decisions about taxing and spending. We don't know what to do. Vote for us again in 2010?.

@855 p.m. | 10:09 a.m. Oct. 5, 2009

It's not a partisan issue, Chuck. As another poster said today, on a different subject, the Republicans and Democrats do the same things. We need to look past both of these parties...

... unless you can find good individual candidates for office. Texans seem to have elected some good men; why don't we?

2 bits | 11:36 a.m. Oct. 5, 2009

We could all do better on this.

At least we have forums like these where we can discuss things and learn what others are thinking on various topics. (That's a good thing).

I come here mainly to learn. My focus isn't to convert or convince anyone I am right (it wouldn't work even if I tried). But I really appreciate having a place where I can express my opinion (for what it's worth).

Brother Chuck Schroeder | 11:46 a.m. Oct. 5, 2009

RE: @855 p.m. | 10:09 a.m.

IN A PERFECT AMERICA we could reach out and listen to each other, stand there holding hands and singing "We Are The World", but it'll never be that, a perfect America. Even though we ARE the richest nation in the World, the lawmakers we elect ignore us, send those monies over to some third world country, in the name of "let's do it for the children", when it gets there, it's lost, and floats around in their blackmarket underground, and we still suffer right here in America. Republicans and Democrats do the same things year after year, decade after decade. In a 2 Party system of Capitalist's and Socialist's. We still suffer badly, such as the Veteran's, the seniors, the elderly, the disabled, the retired that lost everything, the needy, the homeless, the jobless etc. Ask yourself why?. Is it because of the I, Me and My generation this bickering goes on and on?. I think so. Because it's NOT THEM that fills these shoes yet. So, they could care less now. Am I not right?. You know I am 100% right.

SO | 11:52 a.m. Oct. 5, 2009

We hear from an HISPANIC guy who has worked for HATCHCH for 45 years that we should be more civil with each other.

This is but a sampling of the "KUMBAYA" articles we will see from some on the right over the next three years.

The RIGHT is anticipating a RETURN TO POWER. They don't want to be treated the same way they have treated the left over the last nine months.

After all, they do have all the answers; they are just waiting until they are in power in order to ram their wisdom down our throats.

I would bet that what we have seen in the last nine months will be a walk in the park compared to the attacks the left will unleash on the right.

WHAT GOES AROUND does seen to COME AROUND.

@ "SO | 11:52 a.m." | 12:32 p.m. Oct. 5, 2009

SO | 11:52 a.m.

Not a very productive attitude you have.

Dismissing Florez because he's HISPANIC!!! And worked for HATCHCH for 45 years!!! Obviously not someone we need to give any creedence to.

And to ALREADY be positioning yourself and justify what YOU plan to do in the future IF Republicans "return to power" (whatever that means)?

You obviously believe the right giving Obama grief is "wrong"... Yet YOU plan to do the SAME THING, only worse, IF they ever return to power??? Sounds a little hypocritical to me.

I guess you believe in the, "Do as I say, but I have no intiention of do it if I were in your position", philosophy? Hmmm...

Listening | 12:38 p.m. Oct. 5, 2009

I think perhaps the main problem is that we're dealing with people who say the same things over and again. We've heard it all before and are impatient to get beyond the rhetoric and into basic principles. These principles will not change and so it doesn't matter what the rationale is for usurped powers that Congress keeps on wielding or new ones that it wants to wield. We could listen all day and you can talk til you're blue in the face. I want limited government and you don't. We disagree on basic premises.

So we wait politely 'til you argue why the Constitution of the United States doesn't matter to you. Then we speak or perhaps we are told that the time is up, or we cannot say this or we cannot say that, or there can be no follow-up question.

On the bright side we have found ways to speak out. It's interesting that all the talk about good manners etc has only come about now that another view is getting heard effectively. Never mind. We will be as polite as we can be but we will be heard!

Wrong! | 1:38 p.m. Oct. 5, 2009

Americans would listen if those talking were telling the truth, were honest, had wisdom, and integrity. Instead, we are told a bunch of lies that, if believed, will diminish American values, American culture, and the quality of our future. We'll start listening when we start hearing the truth. As Americans, we have a constitutional right to speak out when things disturb us. Florez, don't try to silence us, it won't work, we've been free too long!

unilateral communications | 3:41 p.m. Oct. 5, 2009

"Don't listen to the liberal media. Don't listen to anybody - but me!"
- Conservative guru and hero to millions, Rush Limbaugh

LOL!

Mike Richards | 4:20 p.m. Oct. 5, 2009

Missing from the debate is the expectation of knowledge. A citizen who is ignorant of his responsibilities has the right to speak, but his speech is nothing but words in the wind.

To have honest debate requires preparation. To debate the government's role in health-care, but to ignore the government's authority to participate in health care is not productive or meaningful.

To invite Christ into a discussion where the GOVERNMENT is forbidden to interfere with religion is utter hypocrisy, particularly when those who have suddenly found Christ are the very ones who demanded that we overlook the FACT that they killed 48,000,000 of our babies.

If the liberal left desires a conversation, let them first acknowlege that they have ignored the Constitution and that they have sought every excuse to circumvent law. Then, if they are sincere, PERHAPS we can have an honest debate.

Re LOL! | 4:49 p.m. Oct. 5, 2009

Does this buffoon think his comments are actually commical?

Anonymous | 5:12 p.m. Oct. 5, 2009

Richards, you kill me -- hahaha

You - of all people - claiming to be such the role model and example of a Christian.

Your daily comments are just the opposite.

Keep it up, we need the humor.
ROTFL!!!

re: Re LOL! 4:49 | 5:12 p.m. Oct. 5, 2009

No, but I think LOL thinks the freaky conservatives' comments are.

And I must agree.

Neocons are hilariously serious in all they say and do.

re: No boisterous laugher guy | 5:35 p.m. Oct. 5, 2009

Tell ya what neocon -
Try and refrain from the Limbaugh/Hannity/Beck - sounding posts (all polarizing) and I'll try my best not to laugh at you.
But it's hard.
You neocons crack me up!
LOL!

An Observer | 6:22 p.m. Oct. 5, 2009

Does 5:12 pm and 5:35 pm

ever actually listen

to anyone other than the extreme left?

And will he EVER learn what a real neo-con actually is?

stay tuned.

re: An Observer | 6:57 a.m. Oct. 6, 2009

Today's brand of "conservatism" bears no resemblance whatsoever to the conservatism of our father's and our grandfather's.
Listen to Beck or Limbaugh on any given day and make your own judgement.
It's not necessarily WHAT these polarizing bigots say - it's HOW they say it that is the most disturbing and destructive to any civil society.

Such maturity LOL! | 9:22 a.m. Oct. 6, 2009

You have to question the level of maturity of this guy.

Sometimes he reminds me of my 12 year old daughter... He feels it's actually important enough to take the time to type the signal to tell others when he's laughing out loud, or found something that he thinks is funny?

What kind of person feels they need to laugh at or humiliate anyone who opposes them?

Isn't that a technique school-yard bullies use? Just pointing at, and laughing at, the people they want to put down... and getting their todies laughing at them also, to add to the humiliation?

Not very mature if you ask me.

We don't need to post when we are laughing at someone (just to humiliate them). If it's funny... people will know. You don't have to tell them, "OK guys, it's time to laugh now, everybody laugh at the neocons I'm mocking..."

It's just not mature. Neocons have a sense of humor too. But you shouldn't have to tell people (in writing) when you find something funny. If it's funny, it's funny WITHOUT the LOL! tacked on.

Anonymous | 9:17 p.m. Oct. 6, 2009

Maybe it's just me, but isn't there a little bit of irony here? Are any of you listening to each other? Or are you just talking over one another?

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