Who is my Enemy?

monica0738
Nov 5
2 min read

🎙️ Welcome to "An Open Conversation with Mark and Monica"! 🎙️

In this thoughtful episode, Monica Neubauer and Mark Neubauer dive into the timely and often loaded concept of "enemy" in today's culture. With personal stories and perspectives, they reflect on how social media and politics have shifted the meaning and frequency of the word enemy, both in public discourse and personal relationships.

The conversation unpacks the roots of tribalism, how beliefs form "tribes," and why it's become so easy to label others as enemies—even when true harm might not be present. The hosts consider the definition of "enemy," question whether the term is being used too loosely, and discuss the impact this has on families, friendships, and society at large.

This episode also introduces their upcoming "It's Complicated" series, promising open, nuanced discussions about the toughest topics facing us today.

Major Talking Points

The increasing use of "enemy" in social and political conversations
Personal experiences of feeling targeted or labeled
Tribalism and the human need for "the other"
How beliefs and group identity drive division
The shift from competitor to enemy in political environments
The dangers of viewing fellow citizens as enemies rather than people with differing views
Practical reflections: questioning who our real enemies are, and encouraging empathy

Teaser: Introduction of the "It's Complicated" series, which will tackle challenging and divisive topics

Memorable Quotes

Monica Neubauer

“Who is my enemy? I mean, when I meet people, if they had a different opinion of me... we either talked about it and just changed perspective or we... moved on.'"

Mark Neubauer

“To be human is to be tribal... But I'm kind of holding 'enemy' loosely in that context of we perceive people, we put them into the enemy camp, but they're not really enemies. They're just people that are not in our tribe.'"

Monica Neubauer

“Are you calling someone an enemy? Who is your enemy? Do they really wish you harm?'"

Resources Mentioned

Heineken "Worlds Apart" Ad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKggA9k8DKw

Email for topic suggestions: anopenconversation@gmail.com

Call to Action

Monica and Mark invite listeners to reconsider how they use and interpret the word "enemy" and to send in suggestions for complicated topics they'd like discussed in future episodes.

Thanks for listening to An Open Conversation with Mark and Monica! If you have feedback or want to suggest a future topic, reach out via the contact in the show notes. Watch for the upcoming "It's Complicated" series for more open, challenging dialogues.

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