This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Some say that, since the Civil War, our country has never been more divided than it is now. And it’s not just one issue creating that division. People are afraid of liberties being stripped or humanity being erased, losing our place as an economic leader or becoming too nationalistic. The wedge between beliefs systems is getting larger and more dangerous. No doubt this wedge is perpetuated on all sides by social media, fake news, and tweets. There are theories that these divisions were either instigated or at least amplified by sources outside of our country. As a result, the other side is seen merely as unruly characterizations of out-of-touch, unreasonable groups of people who frighteningly share our right to vote. America is polarizing. It’s not just that we don’t agree on issues - this country was
built on and thrives on valuing differing opinions - but that these differences are dividing us as fellow Americans.
“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory...will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.” Words spoken by Abraham Lincoln 158 years ago capture again a path this country may be headed down if we don’t wake up now.
Better Angels (www.better-angels.org), a non-profit organization, equally “red” and “blue” at every level of leadership, was founded to bring people together. Through safe and honest discourse, the characterizations of the other are shattered and the complexity of each individual is revealed. Our
hurts, our fears, our dreams, our hopes. We discover that we are more aligned than simplifications suggest. And we learn that disagreement opens
us up to new perspectives and civil problem solving. The aim is not to change opinions, but to understand each other.
Living Room Conversations (www.livingroomconversations.org) uses conversation models to facilitate connections between people despite their differences. Through dialogue people are able to discover areas of common ground and shared understanding. Conversation Agreements help assure a positive experience and allow participants to get to know each other and learn about different perspectives on a particular topic.
On December 7, Better Angels and Living Room Conversations will host a debate and dialogue in Longmont - an opportunity for the people of Longmont and surrounding communities to come together to disagree respectfully and learn together, facilitated by trained leaders of these organizations. The Better Angels debate will be on the general topic of Federal Government spending priorities, with a specific resolution to be chosen by attendees,
all of whom will be encouraged to share their opinions The Living Room Conversation, again involving all attendees, will be on the topic of “The
America We Want to Be”. Pre-registration for this event is required in order to participate in the voting to determine the specific debate resolution. Please contact Mary Gaylord, [email protected] or Denice Davis, [email protected] for more information or to
participate. Please respond by November 10 in order to vote on the specific resolution. The event runs from 9:30-2:30 so please bring a lunch. If you’re not sure if you’re ready to participate but are interested in seeing civil discourse in action, consider volunteering. We will need help that day to get the venue set up, folks checked in, and facility clean up. We are also looking for donations of beverages and snacks.
Here is your chance to go deeper than social media. Listen, express, ask questions, and rediscover civility. Please join your community on December
7.
Submitted by:
Madeline Brockish
Longmont, 80504
