Dear Neighbor: The wise why?
Published 12:00 am Sunday, February 2, 2025
By Nan Lund
When young children are developing their language or one is learning a second language, the most difficult question to an answer is “why?” Other questions require less knowledge about the world to be able to offer a reasonable answer.
A guiding principle of telling a story or writing a news item is to include who, what, where, when….and why. Too often even as adults we begin and end with a “who” or a “what” and think we understand a situation or a comment. Who did or said what? We might better take a clue from classic detective stories that often begin with the who, what, where, and when and unfold chapter after chapter to arrive at the “why?” “Why” Is the hinge between knowing and understanding.
Understanding requires us to ask “why” when confronted with ideas or phenomena that may disturb us. Fact: There are a lot of homeless people on our streets. “Why” compels us to look into facts about available housing, community support, treatment options for addictions, shelter requirements. Fact: There are red states and blue states. Why? Here we have to understand some history, culture and geography. Fact: My taxes have gone up. Why? What price increases have the city/state/country had? What if any new benefits do they provide? Fact: Some people don’t believe in climate change. Why? Who are they listening to or reading? What evidence do they cite? What do they gain from their belief?
If you are confronted with a situation, attitude, or “what everybody knows”, we would be wise to ask “why? It may help you understand what is behind it. And why not ask?
“Dear Neighbor” authors are united in a belief that civility and passion can coexist. We believe curiosity and conversation make us a better community.