Enchiladas and Enquiry

Travis and I just wrapped up a tasty beef and cheese enchilada dinner at Amigos. Topics of discussion included cross-country season, college applications, dating (or not), the need for a few good friends, personal walk with God, and men who might not be worthy to date my daughter. On the drive home we discussed intellectual freedom. True intellectual freedom would support one’s ability to objectively assess multiple points of view on a given issue. To disallow multiple points of view to be expressed, or to expect others to hold to the majority view, would obviously not support the concept of intellectual freedom. Trav’s observation: Teaching only the theory of evolution in a public high school does not allow students to explore alternate points of view. Thus, students are not intellectually free.

How free are we – are you – to entertain and express divergent points of view?

Speaking of squelching divergent points of view, here’s a great blog highlighting five types of organizations that shouldn’t blog. Do I see myself, or my organization, exhibiting some of those tendencies? If I do, what attitudes and behaviors can I change that might encourage healthy dissent?

Lesson to aspiring leaders: Learn to invite dissent.