Dialogue and Politics

"Millions of people are suffering: they want to be loved but they don't know how to love. And love cannot exist as a monologue; it is a dialogue, a very harmonious dialogue." - Osho

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When I was first in university a couple of decades ago, there was something that rated higher than partying for the young women in residence with me – well at least it on the weekdays. That was rushing home from class to turn on the Canadian Parliamentary Channel to watch what had been going on in the House of Commons. More often than not we were quickly engaged in a witty exchange between great thinkers that showed respect for each other regardless of what side of the issues they were on.

There was an understanding that everyone was there to do an important job and more significantly there was encouragement. And yes sometimes taunting that called each other to be the best. I remember in particular the sparkle in Pierre Trudeau’s eyes as he used the best of his charisma and evident caring for Joe Clarke to egg him to come out from underneath that bushel and let his little light shine.

I don’t remember the issue of the day that had them all in heated debate. I do remember feeling a sense of awe at what it meant to be a gentleman and a scholar. Sure, we might be able to say that it was an old boys’ club where the white privileged male could spit shine his higher education and spar in the elitist way that the Greeks had done; but then again, it was honest dialogue with a passion for building a strong nation and not messages crafted by skilled spin doctors spit out by elected officials to mask profits and deceit.

I wonder where dialogue has gone in politics.