Choice and respect: #moderationrocks

I was reflecting on the nature of moderation and thought that there were two aspects of it that stand out: choice and respect.  If we have choice and respect we can achieve a balance of freedom and responsibility, of individual liberty and collective identity.  We can create an interdependent society in which we can live according to our beliefs as well as allowing others to do the same. 

We make choices about our beliefs, our friends, the tribes to which we belong, the way we spend our time, what we want for our children, and so on.  We should be able to make these choices without fear of reprimand or judgement by others who think differently.  This is where respect comes in, as it requires us to do unto others as we would have done unto us.  With respect we recognise the right of others to believe different things about politics, sport or whatever.

In the US presidential election race, Donald Trump appears to value choice higher than respect, with a populist appeal to the electorate to believe that their choices and rights are better than the choices and rights of others. These are common electioneering tactics, of course. Let's just hope that in political debate, business interactions, or everyday life, the voice of moderation can always be heard.


I'm interested in what you think. If you’d like to share your views, please tweet @SimonJHayward #moderationrocks