What’s civil discourse, and why is it important? Civil discourse is the open, respectful exchange of ideas, needed now more than ever in our divided world. When practiced effectively, civil discourse fosters a deeper understanding, enhances critical thinking and problem-solving skills, bridges political divides, and promotes civil communication through open dialog.
In recent years, many organizations like Heal America, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, Bridging the Divide Initiative, and Narrative 4 have worked to bridge the divide, striving to create an environment where ideas compete openly and the best solutions emerge. Here in the Methow Valley, we have Braver Angels (BA), with volunteers Janice Dickenson and Byron Odion offering their workshops and “conversations” to anyone interested, regardless of political ties. For BA to succeed, a balance of blue (liberal) and red (conservative) leaders and members is essential.
The BA Way is summed up in eight principles: We state our views freely and fully, without fear. We treat people who disagree with us with honesty, dignity, and respect. We welcome opportunities to engage those with whom we disagree. We believe all of us have blind spots and none of us are not worth talking to. We seek to disagree accurately, avoiding exaggeration and stereotypes. We look for common ground where it exists and, if possible, find ways to work together. We believe that, in disagreements, both sides share and learn. In BA, neither side is teaching the other or giving feedback on how to think or say things differently.
Janice came to the Methow Valley 27 years ago, following her husband, Pete Dickenson, a physical therapist. Pete was recruited by Laura and Sean McCabe, who wanted a high-level physical therapist to work with the ski team. The Dickensons founded Winthrop Physical Therapy and Fitness and started a children’s portraits franchise. They made a success of their lives in the Methow, but not all was well with Janice.
About five years ago, Janice’s son pointed out to her that she was getting increasingly politically polarized. At the same time, she was finding it difficult to engage in civil conversations with her aging father, whom she cared for. After listening to an interview by one of the founders of BA, she was inspired to take some of their workshops and to start volunteering. She is now active coordinating BA activities for the Eastern Washington Alliance, acting as a Zoom events manager, and facilitating live workshops and conversations.
BA offers online and in-person workshops such as Skills for Bridging the Divide, Depolarizing Within, Families and Politics, Skills for Social Media, and Managing Difficult Conversations. Janice, in-person or via an electronic platform, also guides conversations between red and blue participants with strict goals and ground rules. These conversations are “an opportunity to talk with someone outside of your own political group about what you each believe and want for the country.” The two main goals are “to gain more understanding of the experiences, feelings, and beliefs of someone who differs from you in today’s politically polarized environment, and to discover any areas of commonality in addition to differences.”
I recently attended a conversation hosted at The Coaches Lounge in Twisp. The Coaches Lounge was set up by Kim Frey, a Twisp accountant, as a way to facilitate community happenings. The Lounge has hosted church groups, various elected officials, a self-governance class, and now, BA conversations. The first conversation I attended involved two reds and two blues, “getting to know each other” through a series of questions. The next session will involve a discussion of policy issues important to each of us with the goal of “clarification of viewpoints and understanding of differences, along with discovering whether there are any areas of agreement.”
Nationally, and locally here in the Methow, BA is growing, especially after traumatic events. The most common reason people have for joining is that they have a friend or family member they can’t talk to, and they’re motivated to find a path through it. And it’s made a difference. “Braver Angels has changed my life and my relationship with my father,” Janice said. “I’m now much more able to listen to people with different viewpoints because I’m not trying to figure out what to say next.”
For more information, see BA’s website, https://braverangels.org, or Monica Guzman’s podcast, “A Braver Way.”
