Resolving Issues as Human Beings
Por Dra. Nancy 脕lvarez
www.DraNancy.com
En cuanto al trato que nos debemos los seres humanos, ya no podemos hablar de civilizaci贸n, de ninguna manera. Me sorprendi贸 much铆simo c贸mo reaccionaron mis compa帽eras del programa 鈥淒esiguales鈥 (Univisi贸n) ante el hecho de que Trump y Obama estuvieran hablando, muy agradablemente, en la misa funeral del expresidente Jimmy Carter.
When it comes to how we, as humans, treat one another, we can no longer speak of civilization鈥攏ot in any meaningful sense. I was deeply surprised by how my colleagues on the show 鈥淒esiguales鈥 (Univision) reacted to the fact that Trump and Obama were having a pleasant conversation during the funeral mass for former President Jimmy Carter.
Se extra帽aban de que sonre铆an y hablaban amablemente, como analizando cuestiones en medio de la misa. Se preguntaban qu茅 hac铆an dos personas de dos partidos diferentes hablando de manera tan amigable.
They were amazed to see them smiling and chatting amicably, as if analyzing something in the middle of the service. They wondered how two people from opposing political parties could be speaking so cordially.
Entonces, les pregunt茅: 驴por qu茅 seguimos ense帽ando a nuestros ni帽os que las personas que no piensan iguales, de partidos diferentes o de dos equipos de f煤tbol, deben llevarse mal?
So, I asked them: Why do we keep teaching our children that people who think differently, belong to different parties, or even support different soccer teams, must be enemies?
Antes, ve铆a que los que presidentes de EEUU se llevaban bien, e incluso se reun铆an para tratar de encontrar soluciones a los problemas. 驴Cu谩l era la gracia de no hacerlo? 驴Por qu茅 si soy de Trump y usted de Biden, tenemos que ser enemigos? 驴Por qu茅 no podemos hablar?
In the past, I observed U.S. presidents getting along well, even meeting to try to find solutions to problems. What鈥檚 the point of not doing so? Why, if I support Trump and you support Biden, do we have to be enemies? Why can鈥檛 we have a conversation?
El di谩logo es civismo, educaci贸n b谩sica. Es decir a los ni帽os: podemos pensar diferente o no estar de acuerdo en algo, pero tenemos que hablar y resolver las cosas como los seres humanos que somos. Me siento muy orgullosa de ver que estas dos personas est谩n diciendo, a quienes piensan como animales, que se puede negociar.
Dialogue is civility; it鈥檚 basic education. It鈥檚 teaching children that we can think differently or disagree on something, but we still need to talk and resolve issues as the human beings we are. I feel very proud to see these two individuals demonstrating to those who think like animals that negotiation is possible.
Siempre pongo este ejemplo: odio con todas las fuerzas de mi coraz贸n a Joaqu铆n Balaguer, expresidente dominicano. Tengo serias razones. He tratado por a帽os de dejar de hacerlo, y he mejorado, pero a煤n lo odio, tengo que reconocerlo. No me gusta la situaci贸n y deber铆a poderlo perdonar, pero no puedo. Alg煤n d铆a explicar茅 mis razones.
I always give this example: I utterly hate Joaqu铆n Balaguer, the former Dominican president, with every fiber of my being. I have very serious reasons for this. For years, I鈥檝e tried to let go of that hatred, and I鈥檝e improved, but I still hate him鈥擨 have to admit it. I don鈥檛 like feeling this way, and I know I should forgive him, but I can鈥檛. Someday, I鈥檒l explain my reasons.
Sin embargo, jam谩s dej茅 de ser una de las mejores amigas de Bello Andino, el mejor amigo de Balaguer, que en paz descanse. Fue su mano derecha, y el 煤nico en quien Balaguer confiaba.
However, I was one of the closest friends of Bello Andino, Balaguer鈥檚 best friend and right-hand man, until the end of his life. May he rest in peace. He was the only person Balaguer truly trusted.
Fui amiga de Bello Andino hasta el final. 驴Y usted sabe por qu茅 nunca peleamos? Porque yo no le hablaba mal de Balaguer y 茅l no lo mencionaba cuando estaba conmigo. Eso se llama respeto al derecho ajeno, ser quien se quiera ser. Todo esto tenemos que ense帽arlo a los ni帽os. Basta ya de tanta guerra, rabia y violencia.
Why did Bello Andino and I never argue? Because I never spoke poorly of Balaguer, and he never mentioned him when we were together. That鈥檚 called respecting others鈥 rights and allowing people to be who they are. We must teach this to children. Enough of so much war, anger, and violence.
Cuando argument茅 mi posici贸n a mis amigas, respondieron: 鈥渂ueno, es verdad, es un buen ejemplo para los ni帽os鈥. Entonces, pensemos en ellos. Ya bastante porquer铆a le estamos dejando.
When I shared my perspective with my colleagues, they responded, 鈥淲ell, it鈥檚 true, it鈥檚 a good example for children.鈥 So, let鈥檚 think about them. We鈥檙e already leaving them enough of a mess as it is.
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