Civil discourse requires mutual respect. Respect, not agreement, is an essential key for a healthy discussion. This workshop addresses how we may inadvertently be complicit in, or possibly even encourage, polarization. The Depolarizing Ourselves Workshop is designed to help you reframe how you view the other side in the face of disagreements around politics.
Successfully ‘taming’ our inner polarizer starts with recognizing our tendencies around harmful generalizations about the other side. Note that by “polarization,” we are not referring to healthy disagreements over issues or philosophy. We are talking about how we regard and talk about large groups of ordinary people on the other side of our own politics as if they were enemies.
Some Take-Aways:
- How to be more aware of our own “inner polarizer”.
- How to interact without demonizing, dismissing or stereotyping large swaths of the population
This workshop will be presented by a volunteer from Braver Angels of Wisconsin. Their mission is to inspire and equip Americans to practice courageous citizenship across political differences through skill-building, convening, and collaborative action. Feel free to attend the companion workshop “Family and Politics” on November 7.