213: Bridging Our Great Divide by Listening to Understand
Part 3 of the Advocacy series
Listen to Part 1 here
Listen to Part 2 here
“ We are in these political silos with a lot of distrust of one another. So it really takes bravery to reach out across the political divide and listen and try to understand one another. And that's the goal of Braver Angels.”
My guest in this episode is Mary Thomas-Vallens. Mary is a 40-year veteran of the classroom in the Irvine California Unified School District. She currently serves as a moderator and in various other roles for the Braver Angels organization, which works to depolarize “reds” and “blues,” “conservatives” and “liberals” and help them become better listeners.
And just in time, as listening is in short supply these days. Picture the video or photograph of the obviously angry man or woman pointing a finger at a political adversary. They could be arguing about abortion, gun control, climate change, critical race theory, or a host of other issues. “Facts” and invectives are lobbed back and forth like so many verbal grenades.
Blood pressure on both sides rises. In some cases, the arguing escalates to physical altercations. Nothing is accomplished.
Welcome to our great political divide.
But there is an organization that’s attempting to bridge that divide. There is the Braver Angels organization.
“What the two sides discovered is that their values are often the same. It's how they want to get to the solution that’s different.”
Referenced
The Braver Angels organization
Overview of Braver Angel’s mission.
A Braver Angel’s “Red/Blue” workshop.
Dr. Bill Doherty testimony before Congress
Connect with Mary
Email: marytv@braverangels.org
Show Credits
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