Current Approaches to Peace and War Designing the World We Want How Human Beings Work
Bringing a Nation Together: the First Priority of the New President
- October 28th, 2008An Acrimonious Bitter Election Divides the Nation
The nastiness of the current political campaign is the worst in living memory. It has felt to me, at moments, that the nation is coming unglued . I have been disturbed at the rage and hatred expressed by people on all sides of this election. My concern is not with who wins, because whoever wins, we will cope with it. My concern is rather that we will not deal with the fear and the rage that is underlying this animosity.
Polarizing Cultural Changes Swept Through U.S. in Past Forty Years
Huge cultural changes swept through the United States in the last forty years or so, changes which just happened. Many people had no ability to consent to or refuse these social changes. The nature of American life changed radically during the 1960’s and 1970’s, disrupting life as they had known it for some parts of the population. These changes have been well described by Dick Meyer in his interesing new book, Why We Hate Us: American Discontent in the New Millenium. This tug and pull is a natural part of life, and it constitutes the ebb and flow of life as cultures evolve but it is never easy. And so, in almost every election I can remember, large numbers of people were left angry and resentful afterwards and carried that bitterness through to the next election cycle.
New President Takes Office in Midst of Financial Crisis and Uncertainty
The difference with this election is the new leader of the U.S. is being elected in the middle of one of the worst financial crises that the world has ever seen. When people are terrified for their financial survival some become desperate and a few may lose control and act out in violent ways. Violence can spread in crowds. Ideologues and demagogues easily take over when people are uncertain and afraid.
Bringing the American Nation Together Is Critical
This is why it is vital, for whichever candidate is elected to work hard to bring the entire electorate together after the election. This is not a time for gloating or for shoving anything down anyone’s throat. This is a time for building bridges and helping people learn how to talk with each other. I did not say talk at each other , lecture each other or argue about who was right or who was wrong.
President Must Set the Example By Reaching Out to the Other Side
People need to learn how to talk with each other, to listen deeply to each other and to see the human being behind the words. The newly elected President and Vice-President should take the lead and set an example for this by reaching out to the politicians who opposed them and to those in Congress with whom they will have to work .
Learning to Talk with the Other is Challenging but Rewarding
One of the most difficult things for human beings to do is to reach out to those whom they designate as “other”. In this case the other is those who hold very different political views and who voted for a different candidate. We want to chastise these people. We want to be righteous. To treat someone on the opposing side as a human being and inquire into their yearnings goes against the grain. Perhaps their dreams are as valid as our own. These are hard skills to learn but they can be acquired with practice.
Let Us Begin Now
The times are urgent and the stakes are high. We don’t have any time to waste. Let’s start now –or at the very least, on the morning of November 5th.
Resources for learning to listen and communicate with those different from us:
1. The Compassionate Listening Project
3. Landmark Education: Communication Courses
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