Democratic Trust

When I drove away from the family farm to embrace my freshman year at the University of Michigan in Vietnam-era 1970, I was planning on majoring in political science which later turned into a double major in communication theory and positive neuro-psychology Persuasion, cognitive/affective bicameral conserving/liberating bipolarizing dissonance, and more resonantly trusted positive therapeutic attitude change. What I do recall from PoliSci 101: The well-researched underlying root value for any healthy, safe, resilient democratic polyculture is not LeftBrain polypathic intelligence and certainly not more RightBrain election campaign persuasive beauty, but profoundly inclusive TRUST Which, when I later worked in theology, rediscovered in what religious traditions monotheistically refer to as FAITH and/or polytheistically embrace as COMPASSION. Trust also turned out to become the primary underlying value for resilient communication and deeply resonant mental/spiritual robust health and neuro-systemic safety Slow-growing increased capacity for unconditional warm regard of people and our plants and our cooperatively-managed planet developing public health urban areas and cultivating regenerative farms. I find it disappointing and tragic, then, that our disuniting State schools coach young democratic residents in win/lose debate but not win/win trusted faithful cooperatively-intended nonviolent dialogue. This may have a causal effect negatively reproducing Patriarchal-Capitalist competitive mistrust weak relationships Further embedding runaway vicious circle revenge militarism racism homophobia sexism ableism punishing criminalizing imprisoning Othering justice systems Lacking robust muscularity to restore and reward positive ego- and eco- and anthro-therapeutic Trust through proactive teaching and studying and mentoring and mediating win/win dialogue skills For pro-active cooperative co-investments emotional, financial, political, ecological, theological Polypathically reinforcing a great healthy and safe EarthTribe polycultural university Universe for engaging co-passionate trust in integrity, synergetic relationships, honesty, cooperatively therapeutic respect Re-inspecting emergent Trust through transparent and vulnerable dialogue, discernment Intent to embrace healthy and safe democratic communication systems Useful trust-building for restoring cooperative farms and urbane justice areas we call United humane States of and for Trauma Prevention- Peace Extension Which was on my mind and heart when I drove away from the family farm and my high school debate team To embrace my freshperson political trust science year at the University of Michigan in Vietnam-conflicted mistrustful militarized 1970.