There
used to be a time,
Way
back and far beyond,
When
people could disagree,
And
still have a bond
Of
friendship and respect
That
honoured the meek,
And
didn't seek to cancel
Those
that chose to speak.
But
gone are those days,
Buried
deep in condescension,
Leaving
only the vileness
That
demands your suspension.
A
world that seeks to control
And
call to attention,
Any
speech that would challenge
And
highlight perceived contention.
It's
no longer a case
Of
debate and discussion,
But
shouting and screaming
And
sounds of derision.
How
did it happen?
How
did we get so far off key?
Why
did we let this happen
To
them, you, and me?
When
did we lose
The
art of persuasion?
How
do we fix it,
And
balance the equation?
For
one we can acknowledge
There are always many faces,
And
we do a disservice with
The
concept of 'safe spaces'.
Because
the truth can be hard to hear
And
just as hard to see,
But
to achieve equality of thought
We
need that kind of equity.
So
it doesn't matter
If
it's about sex, guns, or gender,
Or
debates that discuss
First,
second, or third trimester.
We
need to talk.
We
need to openly discuss
And
listen and listen and listen,
To
opinions that differ from us.
Then
maybe, just maybe,
When
we've cured the division,
We
can come together as one,
And
always make the right decision.
