On a few occasions when I have told someone of a story that they had never heard of before (these were real stories one case I had actually read the congressional report on the incident) I was accused of only watching fox news. Which is ironic due to the fact that I get very little of my news from that source. I guess that person just assumed if you are conservative you trust that source completely and are attached to it.
I took offense to that. I pride myself on not being a brainwashed shlub but on doing my own research and understanding why I believe what I do believe. I also did occasionally look at the other side. I figured that I probably looked at the Huffington Post more often then the other person looked at Fox News. Though in recent contemplation I have decided that I don't look at it often enough. So I have decided to try to go there everyday for at least a half hour a day and digest as much as I can. I also want to pick another left leaning site to visit daily but I have not decided which one yet. If you have a suggestion let me know in the comments.
Why am I doing this? You might just assume that is to get information that I will not get on the sites that I currently frequently and in a small way that is correct but that is not the main reason. I am doing it so I can understand people on the other side better. I think both sides tend to live in echo chambers. We read things that confirm our own beliefs and dismiss things that don't. As a result we tend not understand those on the other side.
I will take healthcare for example. The liberal sites tend to tell you how wonderful the affordable care act is and how necessary it is. They will focus on its good traits and tell you how many people it helps. This paints a picture to many that this program is essential to the betterment of the people. Sure it has some problems many on that side will admit but these problems are fixable. If we just repeal the program people will just get thrown off there programs and go without health care what kind of monster would want that.
The conservative sites point out its negatives and go on to explain that if left alone the healthcare bill will collapse under it's own weight. Then the same people that gave us that bill will say that the problem with the bill was it realized to heavily on the free market system and the only way to insure a medical system that will work for everyone is a one payer system. The conservatives believe that the left will then push for a state controlled health care system, or socialized medicine. So if you oppose the repeal of the affordable care act you must be wanting a one payer system and that would make you a socialist or a communist.
So by immersing your self in an echo chamber you can easily become convinced that the other side is a monster that does not care if people die, or a crazed communist and in most cases neither is accurate.
This is how we become so galvanized as a people. This is why we have such polarized political opinions. Many time we here that a specific politician is polarizing. Mo0st of the time we are the ones who have already become polarized based partially from our own echo chamber.
I am not going to become a regular reader of the Huffington Post because I think it will change my opinions. Remember I am the geek that will look up the Congregational reports before I completely make up my mind about something. I am doing it to help me build empathy for those who don't agree with me.
I encourage everyone to do the same. If you do plan on doing this leave a comment and let me know. This empathy is how we build a stronger community and nation. We don't have to agree on everything. In fact we can disagree on many things. But we need to understand the humanity in everyone.
May we all spread peace and love.