[Scenic Sounds]

It is relatively easy to convince a person who shares your morals of a point of view – you simply appeal to whatever brand of morality that binds the two of you together. However, when you are confronted with someone that you completely disagree with on every point, to what can you turn to find common ground?

I’m so pleased that you chose to make that point in the disarming form of a question. Your point is such a good and important one.

Arguments framed in terms of morality are great for persuading others who share our moral views and who are therefore more or less predisposed to agree with us anyway. Much of the time, though, “preaching to the choir” just doesn’t gain enough supporters to carry the day.

And the reality is that it’s next to impossible, by repetitive recitation of our moral views alone, to persuade those people who do not themselves share those views. Attempting to pummel people or trying to shame them into “agreement” is usually a complete (and very ugly) waste of time and energy. Like you say, it becomes necessary at that point to find some other common ground (like logic and reason) upon which an appeal to those particular people can be based.

Another great column, Cathryn. Keep up the good work. ;-)

[Cathryn Crawford]

Thank you. I should have had you ghostwrite this one for me. You stated it so well. ;-)