Reaching Across the Divide

Building Bridges not Barriers

In a discussion with a group interested in reaching across the political divide, I questioned, "How do you reach somebody who refuses to participate."

Recently, at Thanksgiving dinner, we were going around the table sharing things we're thankful for. Most of us talked about our family, pets and friends. One person decided to insert politics despite and agreement not to talk about partisan politics at the gathering. He boldly stated, "I'm thankful we have someone as president who is making America great again." The table went stone silent until his wife reminded him forcefully, "No politics!"  

Prior to that, talk around the table had been amicable with broad ranging discussions on a variety of topics including the environment, presidents past and present, food, movies and work. Fortunately, order was restored, and friendship prevailed despite obvious political differences.

I was reminded of an anonymous quote I ran across 30 years ago, "There's my informed and intelligent opinion, and anybody who disagrees is a brain dead zealot."

And then today, I saw this...

There needs to be a change. That change needs to come from us, because it's not likely to come from the top. There are wise words to follow from people much smarter than I.


You cannot reap what you have not sown. How are we going to reap love in our community if we only sow hate?
- Saint Óscar Romero


Now, this country is going to be transformed. It will not be transformed by an act of God, but by all of us, by you and me. I don’t believe any longer that we can afford to say that it is entirely out of our hands. We made the world we’re living in and we have to make it over.
- James Baldwin

People on opposite sides are going to need to to start talking with each other. Maybe that means listening to each other first. There's a book I've been reading, "Soul Force." The authors, Reesheda Graham-Washington and Shawn Casselberry, offer seven pivot points toward courage, community, and change.

The pivot points are:

1. From Fear to Freedom
2. From Barriers to Bridge Building
3. From Self-Centeredness to Solidarity
4. From Hurt to Hope
5. From Consuming to Creating
6. From Charity to Change
7. From Maintenance to Moving 

To me, it looks like the antidote to everything the Trumpians seem to stand for, but by saying this am falling into the same trap?

Be Heard - Vote

As I read, I move from moments of hopefulness to, "Oh, what's the use." I'm reminded of some of the great civil movements. It is not hopeless. Martin Luther King, Jr. responded to the idea that legislation could not be used to change hearts.  

"It may be true that the law cannot change the heart but it can restrain the heartless.
It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me but it can keep him from lynching me and I think that is pretty important, also.
So there is a need for executive orders. There is a need for judicial decrees. There is a need for civil rights legislation on the local scale within states and on the national scale from the federal government."

The time is right to listen, find common ground, and build coalitions that will bring about change. Maybe part of resisting is to resist the forces that would divide us.