The Art of Listening

Jana Mathia, Gazette Editor | May 21, 20200

If you listen to a person long enough, you gain a better understanding of them and can facilitate stronger camaraderie among all parties. That's not to say they will agree any more or less with each other, but allowing people to speak and listening to them seems to make things better all around.

There is a story of two women who shared a house. There was one orange and they both wanted it. Thinking it was fair, they cut the orange in half and went their ways. Had they taken the time to talk and listen to each other, they would have learned that one woman wanted the fruit for eating and the other wanted the rind for cooking. They could have both gotten 100 percent of what they wanted, but because they did not talk about it, ended up with 50 percent.

At the County Commissioner meeting regarding the continuance of the 2020 Palouse Empire Fair, the commission chair told the attendees he was willing to stay in session as long as needed to hear any and all comments about the motion, giving people the chance to vent frustration or show support. That's the way it should be. Contrast that to a commissioners meeting a few years ago when development of the Hawkins project was on the table. Whitman County residents turned out ready to voice their opinions and were told to be mute. The commission chair at the time chose to take no public comment, and people left angrier than when they arrived. Not surprisingly, that chair was not re-elected by the vote of the people.

It just goes to show, even if you don't agree with someone, the prudent thing is to let them speak. Listen to each other and engage in conversation. Even if the two sides end the conversation without changing opinionS, be willing to engage in the conversation.

We are listening, here at the Whitman County Gazette, to you, our readers. We appreciate the input because it helps us know how best to serve you. We can not make everyone happy every time--that's just futility to even try. One reader told us last week the Hocus Focus makes her happy. At least this week, we are making one person happy. We have heard comments about columnist and records; we are doing our best to balance all those demands to provide the content our readers want with the other aspects of newspapers including news coverage.

If there is an aspect that makes you unhappy, we will listen to your complaint. We may not be able to change it, but we will listen. If what upsets you is on only one page, we ask you to not let that spoil the work put in by our staff on the other nine pages.

It is reassuring to see the county commissioners allowing the public all the time needed to comment. That art of listening will help build bridges and draw people together where condemning to silence would only breed anger and resentment.

Jana Mathia,

Gazette Editor