I Must Speak Up

Recently, John Foraker, Co-Founder, and CEO of Once Upon a Farm, joined for a taping of one of our TIG Talk episodes. I invited him because I was both inspired and encouraged by his willingness to speak up and speak out about the state of our current politics and the importance of this election. I’ve spent much of my professional life afraid to speak on specific topics, and I wanted to borrow some of John’s courage.

I find myself sad. When I was younger, I loved politics. The oratory, the strategy, the impact good policy-making has on citizens. That is not the view I hold any longer. I find myself sickened by the gaslighting, vitriol, othering, and lying that is endemic in today’s politics. I see it now as a force for division, not for change.

There was a time when we could sit with friends who held vastly different opinions and world views and enjoy a spirited debate. We’d argue good-naturedly, hug it out and move on. That time is gone. Right now, it is frightening to share opinions, thoughts, and views. The backlash can be mean spirited and can impact you personally and professionally. Rather than hold opinions loosely, too many now tether them to self-identity, amplifying them through sources that serve as confirmational bias and consider them truths.

There are two kinds of “truths” today, relative and absolute. Relative truths are those closely-held opinions…