I love - LOVE - this idea.
We ought to be able to disagree, with great passion, without resorting to personal attacks, lies and innuendo. I’m as Blue a voter as you’ll ever know, but I’m not going to question your patriotism because you vote Red.
We have to find ways to passionately disagree, to fight for our values, and still make space in those arguments for the truth that we are neighbors. To do otherwise leads us down a path resembling 1994 Rwanda or 1936 Spain. (If that is where you want us to be, then no, we don’t have anything to discuss, but I believe you would be in the distinct minority in that regard.)
That said, there are arguments we have that are about survival for some folks. Arguments about who is fully human and who gets to decide. Those are hard arguments to square with neighborly values. But we have to make the effort.
The effort requires avoiding falling into meanness or violence. I’ve had some pretty vile stuff said about me, and had rocks thrown through my window for my policy stances. They’re nothing compared to what folks like Jared Polis and Wes Moore have had to put up with, and they believe this effort to “Disagree Better” is worth the time. If they can do it so can I, and so can you.
Now here’s the caveat: If you’re actually committing treason, or just sporting a bumper sticker that asks, “Are you a Democrat or an American?” (Yes, I’ve seen those, photos on request) then our “disagreement” is going to be a brief one in which you find that I’ve left the conversation.
But if you’re willing to stick to the question in play (whatever that may be,) play by rules, keep it about the policy and not the person and stick by the vote once the vote’s been counted, I will do the same.
Lastly, I was reminded earlier today of Yeats’ words: “The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.” We, the best among us, can and must fill ourselves with passionate intensity for the cause and with judgment and sense enough to know when to stop swinging. I’m in. Are you?
https://lnkd.in/ePQTEGQN