Sharon McMahon (@sharonsaysso) has quickly become one of my favorite Instagram accounts to follow since November 2020. If you haven’t brushed up on your US Constitution or democratic process education in the past 20 years, meet @sharonsaysso, your new U.S. government teacher! She is a solid teacher, fair, balanced, socratic, takes any and all questions, is a huge government nerd and slightly sassy, which I love. Watching the electoral college process in January of this year, she explained who every person was, how their role functions, and what they could and could not do per the constitution.

Last week a friend brought up how rhetoric is hurting our country. In full agreement I noted that poor communication, thoughtless discourse, and the incessant repetition of logical fallacies remain disheartening. We live in the age of miscommunication, destroying one of our most basic means for human understanding. Instead we live in fear and at each other’s throats. We have lost our courage for composure and flail our words like primitive weapons.

I have often wondered what this time in history might have looked like with all of our innovation, our scientific and technological advances. An age of intelligence? The next great awakening? (Seriously! Could you imagine?!) But sadly, we are squandering it all away.

I appreciate how Sharon McMahon takes the time to explain language and rhetoric and why much of what we hear is illogical on “both sides.” Logical fallacies are typically why I tap out of political discussion on social media. Logical reasoning must exist in order for me to even consider joining a conversation. I don’t have room in my brain for anyone else’s sloppy and careless comments, especially whilst trying to sort through some of own own miseducation and misunderstandings.

As organizational psychologist Adam Grant says, “The world needs more rationality, and less rationalizing. Rationalizing is searching for justifications after you’ve reached an opinion or decision. Rationality is seeking the best logic and data before you commit – and staying open to changing your mind.”

I have been challenging myself to choose rationality and avoid logical fallacies in my public, private, and social media conversations. My head feels lighter. My brain enjoys the clarity. My soul enjoys the humanity.

Please share your thoughts on what role communication plays in our country’s current condition? Do you have a favorite educational resource?