Whenever someone said to my father, “Let’s have a conversation,” he would reply, “No, let’s have an argument.” Today, that would sound aggressive, but it wasn’t at all. We need more people today who are willing to engage in this way.

My father explained to people what he meant by “having an argument.” He did not mean that we should shout or get angry with each other. And he absolutely rejected violence as a way of resolving disagreements. What he meant was that when two people genuinely argue, they are trying to understand each other’s perspectives and opinions in the hope of learning from the other. In a mere conversation, all we do is proclaim what we believe and hold back from challenging others.

Most people today want to spout their views, rather than engage in a spirited argument. T

See Full Page