Random thought after cooling off from this past weekend

Use of imprecise language, intentional or otherwise, often leads to misunderstanding and miscommunication.

Use of precise language makes little difference if you don't have the same set of definitions and connotations as your audience.

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I'm pretty sure my parents still don't understand a lot of the basic American things I've tried to explain. I'm also sure I don't fully grasp the weight of the Vietnamese stories my parents have shared with me. It's an ongoing process, but we make progress with every casual conversation and deep discussion.

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I like to think it's all of the short and long conversations in my life with family, friends, and strangers that really shaped the majority of my view of the world.

I think that's how everyone's perspective is shaped in general. Conversation. Everyday exchanges of thoughts and feelings and random observations. Of course, there are other influences. But conversation is what gradually opens my eyes to things I couldn't see before, even if I can't see it in that moment.

If people could understand that, maybe some of them would stop shouting and listen. But whatever, left or right, everyone wants to win and avoid being "on the wrong side of history." That's something we won't know until this is over. When will it be over? Will it end? What is it?

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I worry more about social policies than I do about economic ones simply because my understanding of economics is still very limited. On the other hand, social policies are very easy for me to understand. Lots of fear about what will happen with legislation in regard to LGBT, immigrant, and women's rights. Republicans haven't been super friendly or open to compromise in the past. Granted, it would be great to get our economy on track, but it wouldn't mean much if my quality of life was reduced in other ways.

But we'll see what happens. We'll see if some miracle happens and the gov actually works for and with the majority and the minority of this country. Maybe not now, but one day...