In the mid 80's I (like many people in those Thatcherite times) became much more political. From an apolitical (some would say apathetic) standpoint, my views were polarized towards the left. This happened not because I had listened to the speeches of Scargill, Kinnock or even Tony Benn (who is now a hero); but because I'd listened to songs, stories and points of view at folk clubs. Some of those points of view I didn't agree with initially, but changed my mind after consideration. Some I still don't agree with and some are still up for discussion. For me, the key words are "listen", "respect", "discuss","differ", "consider". We need to keep listening and talking - rather the soapbox than the semtex!