Our next steps
So much to say, and nothing to add…. That’s how I feel as we careen towards the U.S. presidential election on November 3.
The only thing I know for sure is that we have a long road ahead of us regardless of who wins, because electoral outcomes will not heal the many fractures and fissures that run through American society right now. That work is on our shoulders, not on the shoulders of a particular person or administration. “We the people…” means us.
Even as we consider binary choices on the ballot, we must resist the urge to apply that simplistic lens onto all we see. If we know ourselves to be complex people with a wide range of views and experiences, can we not grant complexity to others, too? If we know that how we vote does not even begin to explain who we are and what we value, is that not true of others as well? Politics is binary, people are not.
One of the most foundational concepts in intercultural communication is that when we are polarized, the work before us is to find commonalities. More often than not, we can find shared values when we talk about our families and our hopes and dreams, as well as our concerns. This is where we find the regenerative tissue upon which to build and repair.
Polarization cannot be pinned on one person or one administration. Trump has certainly added fuel to the fire, and he fans the flames; he bears a lot of responsibility. But it is incumbent upon all of us to look within ourselves and consider how each of us is also contributing to polarization.
What do we say when we are with like-minded people? Do we speak about the “other” respectfully, or in sweeping, derogatory terms? When we are offended by something someone says, do we pause to consider that we may have misinterpreted the statement? When we engage with those who think differently, do we set aside our own views to listen deeply?
Join one of our Zoom workshops to learn how to engage with different viewpoints more effectively. We have a workshop currently underway; another will be starting in November and is already full, and another will be starting in January. Seats fill quickly because we keep the classes small. Contact us to learn more.
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Copyright © 2020 Sharon V. Kristjanson. All rights reserved.