One only needs to spend a few minutes on social media to see that America is becoming a “house divided.” The rancor between liberals and conservatives is at a level that many of us have not previously experienced.
Historically, our country has survived divisive times over issues such as slavery, the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement. As a nation, we have previously demonstrated our capacity to heal by setting aside our differences and working together for change.
The very essence of democracy is that we agree to disagree. We understand that a free exchange of differing ideas leads to better solutions. We also know that a government elected by a majority means that our own side does not always win.
The current era of polarization is dangerous to us as a nation and as individuals. When we stop listening to each other and begin to perceive “the other side” as dangerous, the interchange of ideas grinds to a halt. We lose the synergy that comes from “e pluribus unum.” When our government ceases to function because political leaders are more interested in “winning” than in legislating, our democratic structure begins to falter.
The health of our society depends on each of us being a contributing member and caring about each other. If our hearts are filled with hate and we demonize our neighbors, then we are spiritually damaged. Our focus is distracted from solving American problems and we allow inequality and injustice to continue.
At times it is overwhelming. A reasonable starting point for change is to first focus on ourselves. As children, we learn that stereotyping groups of people is bad. We are taught to view others as individuals and to not make assumptions based on preconceptions. However, much of the country has fallen into the trap of stereotyping each other based on political affiliation or voting record. Conservatives perceive liberals as “snowflakes,” “fiscally irresponsible” and “socialists” who want to destroy the country. Liberals perceive conservatives as “racist,” “homophobes” and “selfish” capitalists without compassion for those in need.
Better Angels is a bipartisan citizens movement founded in direct response to the extreme polarization that surfaced around the 2016 election. The name is taken from Abraham Lincoln’s 1861 inaugural address, in which he stated that “we are not enemies, but friends” and appeals to the “better angels of our nature” to heal a divided nation. The organization has grown from a handful of concerned individuals to almost 7,000 members in all 50 states.
Through workshops, education and media, Better Angels focuses on bringing those with different viewpoints back into conversation. We do not seek to change anyone’s political views or bring us all to the center. Instead, we are counting on creating a ripple in the social fabric of our country by healing one relationship at a time. If we can restore civility at an individual and community level, then we can begin to pressure our politicians to behave in a more constructive manner.
If we stay within our own comfort zone, it is easy to assume that all liberals or all conservatives mirror the loudest critical voices in Washington. We can slip into categorizing half the country based on what we hear from political leaders and what we read in news sources that are trending away from objective reporting.
Alternatively, if we take time to listen to each other, we will find that conservatives and liberals, as individuals, have a wide range of opinions and solutions. We have different life experiences that shape our priorities and our passions. We will discover shared values and concerns, and in doing so, we will recognize the humanity of each other, regardless of politics.
Better Angels, in collaboration with the Central Arkansas Library System, will be presenting an overview of the organization on Aug. 24 from 1-3 p.m. and a workshop on Sept. 7 from 1-4 p.m. in the Darragh Center of the Main Library in Little Rock. An additional overview session will be held on Aug. 19 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the John Fletcher Gould Library in Little Rock.
These events are open to the public and are free. Our purpose is to build community awareness of alternatives to polarization and to provide an opportunity for learning how to interact across the political divide.
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Cindy Kyser is the Arkansas state coordinator for Better Angels. Email her at CKyser@Better-Angels.org. |
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