Since the result of the EU referendum, we have all had something to say. We continue to say it, over and over, but right now we’re all talking so much, there is little room for real reflection or listening to each other. The press, including the Guardian, is locked into binary positions, reflective of the nation’s core anxieties. To berate each other for how we voted is to fuel the fire of fear and ignorance and shows a real lack of emotional intelligence. We need voices of reason and skilled leaders who can initiate dialogue and understanding. The Guardian could be a leading light, yet seems intent to hold firm to its belief systems, where those who voted leave are castigated for their shortsightedness and pitied for their lack of education. This is to fundamentally misunderstand the picture emerging in world politics. To hold steadfast to any strong belief will prevent real learning from taking place. The 13th-century philosopher Rumi captures this predicament and shows a way to manage it: “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field … I will meet you there.” If we dare to stop, breathe and truly look at where we have arrived, we have a chance to engage with our humanity and intelligence in a way that is needed now more than ever.
Maria Sutherland
(Psychotherapist), Bookham, Surrey
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
