I sometimes wonder if we shy away from common ground and avoid common sense because they're too vulgar. Seriously.
But I do agree that shared perspectives and common goals are the best approach to further agreement. I also think they're far more widespread than we care to acknowledge.
On the first - I think there's a tendency among some to want to stand out in a crowd, to not appear to be part of the herd, etc. To me, wanting to be a non-conformist for the sake of being a non-conformist is the most common tendency and hence a paradox in itself. (Yogi Berra might have said something like - "everyone wants to be different".) Also, it's a sure sign of mediocrity. People who actually stand out don't need to make an effort to do so - they already stand out, like sore thumbs.
On the second - it is strange but most of us seem to focus more on quibbling over our difference rather than celebrating what we have in common, that unifies us.
I sometimes wonder if we shy away from common ground and avoid common sense because they're too vulgar. Seriously.
But I do agree that shared perspectives and common goals are the best approach to further agreement. I also think they're far more widespread than we care to acknowledge.
I agree on both counts.
On the first - I think there's a tendency among some to want to stand out in a crowd, to not appear to be part of the herd, etc. To me, wanting to be a non-conformist for the sake of being a non-conformist is the most common tendency and hence a paradox in itself. (Yogi Berra might have said something like - "everyone wants to be different".) Also, it's a sure sign of mediocrity. People who actually stand out don't need to make an effort to do so - they already stand out, like sore thumbs.
On the second - it is strange but most of us seem to focus more on quibbling over our difference rather than celebrating what we have in common, that unifies us.