Seeing Both Sides of the Issues and More
By Gene Aronowitz
At some point, years ago — I’m not precisely sure when — I began to believe that those with differing viewpoints were as committed to their values and attitudes as I was to my own, and that their opinions might have some legitimacy. I became intent on understanding "both sides" of various issues —a significant change for me —because, when I was actively involved in oppositional advocacy, I believed that those with opinions different from mine were wrong.
In Joni Mitchell’s composition and performance of “Both Sides Now,” she explores her shifting perspectives on clouds, love, and life, drawing on her accumulated wisdom and experience. However, Mitchell implies, by examining both sides, that there are only two sides to what she was experiencing. I think there are more than two sides. In fact, there are many sides.
Jury deliberations are a prime example of the various perspectives on a single issue. Jury members initially examine the same set of facts in different ways, based on their own cultural backgrounds, ages, educations, social roles, personal experiences, beliefs, values, attitudes, biases, and the influence of fabrications and distortions. They must modify their initial perspectives to reach a unified conclusion, or the jury may become deadlocked, potentially resulting in a mistrial. Studies have suggested that hung jury rates are relatively low. Federal criminal trials appear to have the lowest rates, historically around 2.5%
To fully understand the people I am trying to communicate with, I need to consider all their perspectives. I’m far from having that kind of understanding, and so I connected with the repeated line at the end of Joni Mitchell’s song, when she sang that she really didn’t know about life at all. Nevertheless, understanding all sides is a worthwhile goal when communicating, and I will continue working toward it.
A version of this memoir is included in the book 23 More Memoirs.