I have struggled with both ends of this courage. Forcing myself to speak up in defense of myself or others and forcing myself to listen to thoughts of others that run contrary to my own. I don't know if that is courage or an effort to show wisdom. Whatever you call it, I am still trying to learn both.
I think it boils down to respect, equal respect for our own beliefs and for the beliefs of others. Diversity, a word that has somehow become a catch-all in recent years but I'll use it anyway. Diversity seems to have made us a bit hesitant to speak in either instance. Some feel empowered by this 'new' word, diversity. Some feel a little uneasy lest our words stir up something negative. It is a quandary.
I'm as diverse as they come, Like Churchill, I'm British. I say what I think and believe to be the truth as did he. What I say may not be right but It's never a lie. If I have done wrong I graciously apologise. I hear others objections, then decide.
Born in Churchill's time these were the values I was raised to.
