Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Open letter to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris

 

 

Congratulations! You now have a special opportunity, one that could change how Americans and the rest of the world view politicians in the United States. Put simply: never use the word BELIEF. Never base your views on what you BELIEVE. The word immediately places your commentary in the category of opinion, not truth. Opinions can be wrong, are never universal, and create division. 

 

“I think” is so much more palatable than “I believe". You can still hedge if the facts are incomplete. Recognizing uncertainty will increase your credibility, given that Trump is so certain about the lies he spews.

 

We all realize it is your job to know everything but we all recognize that you can’t possibly know everything. To turn uncertainty into “I believe” puts you up against the ropes defending yourselves. The “I think” moment elevates you and the mind of your listeners to a higher place, one that instills the trust that you are actively seeking the truth and will ultimately do the right thing. Thank you and good luck.



For all of James's blogposts, books, and more, visit https://www.jameschanningshaw.com