142: To Sam Harris, whom I hope to meet backstage Friday at the Beacon Theater
In End of Faith Sam Harris says “We have a choice. We have two options as human beings. We have a choice between conversation and war. That’s it. Conversation and violence.”
I like his podcast, listened to most episodes, read several of his books, support him with cash. I will see him in person this week for the first time at the Beacon Theater in Manhattan with Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman. It looks like I’ll get back stage passes so may meet him.
One of my goals with today’s recording (that isn’t obviously about the environment) is to prompt the chance of meeting in person.
I support his initiatives on free speech, not just for myself and people who agree with me, freedom from religious oppression, identity politics, and more. I’m glad and grateful that he’s approaching issues others fear to, even when I disagree with him..
Anyone who knows me knows I support and act for equality, diversity, freedom, environmental stewardship, universal education, healthy food, and access to all these things. Also empowering the individual, integrity, honor, personal responsibility, not victimhood or blame.
As much as I support him and his message, this view that conversation is the only alternative to violence, or even the main one, is holding him back. In fact, he knows this. Where he has experience influencing other ways, he doesn’t rely on conversation.
For example: meditation. He created an app at great cost in time and money to give people experience meditating. He changed tremendously as a person from his experience meditating. As with many fields, he learned by practicing the basics and teaches that way. He would never consider propagating the practice of meditation by lecturing or merely sharing conversation about meditation except to promote acting on it. Acting is where change and learning comes from. Same with Brazilian Jujitsu.
This episode is about how I believe Sam can reach potential beyond his current horizons, by leading, by which I don’t mean manipulating, seeking compliance, and so on.
In the end I invite him to appear on each other’s podcasts. Cheeky? Gumption? I’m not sure, but I think we’d mutually benefit and be glad we did.
Read the transcript.