So, I am asking myself this question: what is a dangerous idea? I mean truly dangerous.
We live in a loud age. We are awash with words. Too many people speaking, everyone with an opinion. Doesn’t matter if we know anything, start talking and let your thoughts catch up.
Just listen to the endless drone of 24/7 news to see what I mean. On second thoughts, don’t! You won’t find anything dangerous there. Predictable, boring, smug, self-righteous yes; but not dangerous.
We don’t do dangerous ideas. We do certainty. We do affirmation. We do approval. We want the applause, but only from the right people.
Where are the heretics?
I am thinking about this because I am speaking at a Festival of Dangerous Ideas and I am now wondering why.
A friend of mine told me not to bother. The audience will applaud for all the wrong things. They will ask questions that will make you ask if anyone even listened to a word anyone said.
People go to these things, he said, to hear themselves. The last thing they want is to change their minds.
Oh God, I hope not. I have not entirely given up yet, but that may be a triumph of hope over experience.
So, that question: what is a dangerous idea? What would you be willing to say that you will be crucified for?
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