Q: How many radio psychologists does it take to change a lightbulb?
A: Just one, but it really has to want to change.
Had a great conversation with a friend of mine who is and "Evangelical Atheist." He believes there is no God and wants everyone to agree with him. He has lengthy posts on a number of websites and he and I talk at length when we work at the Hotel where I'm currently moonlighting. He's brilliant, articulate and he missed the big point with regard to converting anyones beliefs with proof.
In last nights late night ramble, he quoted bible quote after quote, bible in hand, red-faced like a Revival Preacher, pointing out inconsistencies from both old and new testemant...from Jesus to Job, Lot's Daughters to Mary Magdelene. Finally, as we were being replaced by our overnight replacements, I just told him, "It's not about any of that...it's what you have faith in. Faith is knowing something is 'real' regardless of what ever proof presents itself."
I think it's the same way with Politics. We get on our political team, we have team spirit and before long, we BELIEVE in the team. We may not have Dick Nixon to kick around anymore, but lots of folks think he was grand, REGARDLESS of the facts. (or on the converse: we may not have Bill Clinton to kick around anymore...)
I try to play off as immune to all this stuff. But anyone who knows me knows I'm a pinko liberal. And unless there's a HUGE change in my PERSONALITY, my heart will always bleed and I'll always bristle at conservative "Ideology" even if age and experience shows me that many Republican Policies make sense.
Many of the folks I encounter BELIEVE their life is the way it is and that they cannot change. Some examples are, "I can never stop drinking. I must control my wife through violence. It's ok to have sex with my kids as long as I give them gifts afterwards." These folks are confronted with FACTS all the time. Facts like "Your parents drank themselves to death. Your wife liked you just fine before you started hitting her. OR Having sex with your kids is illegal and against most societies rules and may result in really bad things happening to you." (this is not to imply that these beliefs and facts are similar to Conservatism) What it takes to change these patterns is not facts alone, but EXPERIENCE in changing. In order to change, one must make a commitment to change. If they don't want to change, even Albert Ellis, Dr. Phil, Dr. Laura, and Stuart Smalley in a tag team match won't get them to budge.
How do you get a dog to take a pill? Wrap it in cheese and bacon. Anyone who wants to change someone's mind probably should try using palatable bits of information that gently guide your convert in your direction. Hittin' em over the head with "Bush is a Crook! Howard Dean is a Neanderthal! or Jesus isn't Real!" is not the kind of pill one can swallow. Cut it into bits...and make it tastey.
Can you tell, I'm not getting a lot of work done today? I'll burn in whatever unpleasant post death torture chamber really exists...that's for sure.
Like the Crusades, DB is setting out on a quest to change things and make the world a better place. May your sword of truth be quick and covered with cheese and bacon!
PRH
