Article by Liz Wise

A few of us live encased in red or blue bubbles, insulated from political disagreements. Most of us however have relatives or neighbors or—in the saddest cases, former— friends with whom we disagree about political issues, and in today’s polarized environment, political conversations often turn angry and counterproductive. But they don’t have to: conversations can instead be an opportunity to learn more about why the other person holds their views and to identify common ground. I firmly believe that by seeking understanding and by working together, we can have a healthier community and can accomplish more for the common good.

I feel fortunate to have discovered Braver Angels, an organization which allows me to do just that. Launched in 2016, Braver Angels is a non-profit bipartisan citizen’s movement to unify America. By creating opportunities for meaningful discussions, Braver Angels works to dial down the heated rhetoric that gets in the way of real conversations and accurate understanding of our differences. The objective is not to push an agenda or change participant’s minds, but rather to provide a safe place for deeper understanding.

Braver Angels of Central/Eastern Washington is offering a workshop November 23 from 2-5pm at the Ellensburg Library called “Depolarizing Within.” This workshop aims to build your skill at lessening polarization in your own personal conversations.

The workshop teaches you how to become more aware of your own ‘inner polarizer’ in conversation; how to disagree with others without demonizing, dismissing, or stereotyping large segments of our nation’s population; and strategies for intervening constructively in social conversations with like-minded peers when those conversations veer into contempt and ridicule for people who hold opposing political views.

Successfully “taming” our inner polarizer starts with recognizing our tendencies around harmful generalizations about the other side. This requires acknowledging how we often attribute negative intent and motivations to the other side without first trying to understand them. It also involves recognizing how we unrealistically over-idealize our own side in the equation.

You can register for this free Depolarizing Within Workshop at https://rb.gy/fbvraf or email Emily Jacobs at ejacobs@braverangels.org. Find out more about Braver Angels at BraverAngels.org.

This article was copublished by the Ellensburg Daily Record Newspaper on November 16, 2024. Elizabeth Wise is a member of League of Women Voters of Kittitas County. A retired family doctor, she lives in Cle Elum and is a co-chair of the Braver Angels Central/Eastern Washington Alliance.

The League of Women Voters envisions a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge, and the confidence to participate. We encourage community conversations to explore different perspectives and needs in building a more resilient and welcoming society.