POETRY

Are You Listening?

Discourse and listening, let’s take it to the streets

Discourse without listening

Falls on deaf ears

Why I Shared This

These words have been bouncing around in my head now for over a week. I first had to check to make sure that I had not heard them before, but I had not.

After checking, then I had to think about the words more. What was I trying to say exactly? What was the point? Who was I speaking to?

It came to me over the weekend, and this image sums it up.

When discourse presents itself, especially supported by the masses, we have to make sure that those intended are “listening”.

When they look out the windows of their home or their offices, they have to be aware, with ears open and need to “see” and “hear” what is happening.

For them not to, or for the voices to not be heard, means that dialogue cannot happen, and “change” cannot happen.

I live in one of the cities that has seen unrest of late; I often ask myself if our leaders are really “listening” to the streets, or merely reacting as has been done before?

I ask myself that since nothing seems to happen, and that is why the “streets” are angry and hurt.

As you know, hurt leads to anger, leading to more hurt — a vicious cycle.

Change can only happen if the interested parties are listening to one another. They are acting on those words and making “change” happen.

The “discourse” should be heard by those intended, and they need to “listen.”

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About Michael

Michael Thacker is a not so young adult blogger, aspiring writer, and sometimes seller of real estate.

Michael tweets a LOT on Twitter. Posts every once in a while on Facebook. Occasionally lets his opinions be known to friends, family, and anyone else that will listen.

Connect with Michael

You can follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MichaelThackerI.

If you want to connect on Facebook, the best place is https://www.facebook.com/RMichaelThacker/