by Rev. Amari Magdalena
Our political divide continues to widen and polarization is dividing many families. Some have quit friendships and disconnected with members of their own family over the great divide. Some attempts have been tried by think tanks or groups exploring this phenomenon that could potentially lead to a state of revolution or civil war.
What is the solution? Well, I believe it is R.E.S.P.E.C.T. as Aretha sang out. It begins with actually listening to people who feel differently than we do, really listening. That kind of communication is marked by great respect and not arguments or bullying tactics to attempt to dissuade someone who disagrees with us.
Listening is THE most effective way we can hear and understand another’s point of view without trying to move them to our side. Indigenous people understood this with the talking stick. The listener was not focused on what they had to say, rather respectively hearing the other person.
I’m also struck by the need to read all sides of an issue from the far left to far right to center. We might actually learn something that we didn’t know. I personally find more trust in the less extreme media and even though I’ve been a lifelong fall off the planet left leaning democrat, I have always understood that ultimately, we must move to center to effect change that meets most needs.
Raised in a liberal leaning family, I observed that many in the next generation leaned right. To better understand that, I had to ask folks about their choices and why they chose a particular path. That allowed me to keep the dialog open. I highly recommend that. No arguing, no attempting to convince someone to our position, rather listening and finding that middle ground.
I feel that truly we have more in common than we think. Every human wants to love and be loved. Almost everyone thrives in an environment of compassion and caring. I suspect that all of us would like to have affordable living, sufficient abundance for some perks, hope our children lead good lives, etc.
The pendulum of influence has always swung to extremes and in time rights itself back to center. We could say that right at this moment there is a backlash against the pendulum swinging too far to the left. The overcorrection is to swing to the far right. If we figure out how to respectively address people, it will naturally correct and move back to center. It’s a bit uncomfortable now. If we just recognize these pattern shifts followed by course corrections, perhaps we will find balance and peace. I sincerely hope we do!
I am reminded of a very wise soul who occupied this earth: Thich Nhat Hanh was a lifelong peace advocate who taught that polarization can be overcome as we nurture tolerance, inclusiveness, and the understanding of our deep interconnection with all human beings.’
May Peace prevail.
“See the system. When you find yourself stuck in an oversimplified polarized conflict, a useful first step is to try to become more aware of the system as a whole: to provide more context to your understanding of the terrain in which the stakeholders are embedded, whether they are disputants, mediators, negotiators, lawyers, or other third parties. This can help you to see the forest and the trees; it is a critical step toward regaining some sense of accuracy, agency, possibility, and control in the situation.”
― Peter T. Coleman
“Engaging the mandorla (form around a picture) can free us from the paralysis of polarity and the myopia it generates.”
― Mark M Beckwith
“Jesus called his disciples to be both “salt and light.” Each image depicts a perfect balance between difference and yet involvement…” ― Kathy Keller
“…political orientations are natural dispositions that have been molded by evolutionary forces. Taken together, those deeply ingrained political orientations form what could be called “The Universal Political Animal.” ― Avi Tuschman
