Do you have friends or family that you are not communicating with right now because of different political views?
How did we get to the point where we do not speak to people we love due to politics? By moving to our safe spaces, it has negatively impacted our relationships with our family and friends. Kwame A. Appiah, a New York City columnist said, “Our tribal prejudices are at work during moments like this. Over time clearer heads will prevail.”
In truth, “we never stopped talking politics, we stopped talking politics with people who disagree with us,” according to “I Think You’re Wrong But I’m Listening,” authors Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers. So how do we begin to change that dynamic?
We can move from our corners to seek neutral ground. In an interview with Krista Tippett of
the On Being Podcast, Bishop Michael Curry and Dr. Russell Moore said learning to live in a
relationship with differences is called maturity. It is about learning to live with disagreement
and staying in the relationship.
It is time to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. Find small common areas where you both
agree. From that point, start to work toward discussing your disagreement. Identifying areas
where we both see things the same way gives us the chance to find common ground.
Do not ask people to debate the contentious issue, but let them tell the story that brought them
to the conclusion they now hold. That shift in perspective can help create the common ground
we all seek.
As Holland and Silvers suggest, we should show each other grace in all our conversations
because “a person doesn’t have to share our worldview to have a place in our world.”
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