Since announcing Reach Out Wisconsin, the feedback I’ve gotten is overwhelmingly positive. Wisconsinites and people around the country are thrilled at the idea of people discussing politics across the divide with respect. But now and then, I’ve also gotten pushback.
Some people who share my liberal views seem fearful or even alarmed at the idea of talking and listening to conservatives. They seem suspicious of my true motives: If I’m really liberal, why am I so bent on listening instead of fighting for my liberal beliefs? Or am I just naive, allowing conservatives to trick me into wasting my time and energy on listening?
It feels like these skeptics fear that by listening to viewpoints that challenge their own, they’ll risk diluting the strength of their convictions.
I can understand that fear, but I don’t share it. If my opinion is truly sound—if it’s based in truth, reason, and experience—then it won’t be easily changed. And if my views do change when I hear new information, that just means I’m capable of integrating new knowledge into my stances.
But I also think skeptics often misunderstand what dialogue is about. By and large, in dialogue, we don’t move toward some middle ground, and we often don’t even attempt to reach an agreement. Common ground is sometimes a happy, surprising byproduct of dialogue, but it’s not the purpose.
Dialogue is simply about understanding and respecting those with whom we disagree. Usually, our own views deepen as a result. By learning more about how the other side thinks and feels, we gain a more nuanced perspective. By answering their questions and considering their arguments, we’re forced to articulate our own views in new ways. We thus learn more about why we believe what we believe.
In the end, we come away with a firmer grasp of both (or all) sides, and with greater respect for our political opposites.
I’m a strong liberal, just like my skeptical friends. Like many Americans, I have a “side,” a tribe. Although I believe in dialogue, it takes practice for me to be respectful of conservatives who believe very differently than I do. But if I can do it, so can others—even the skeptics.
To lay more of the skepticism to rest, let me outline my liberal beliefs. I want to demonstrate that I am a true liberal—just one who believes in listening.
Here are some of my beliefs:
I’m for gay marriage. Two loving, committed adults of any gender should be supported in their commitment, not only by society but by the government, not only in terms of tax and health-care benefits but in title.
I want sex education in public schools that includes contraceptive use.
I’m a scientist and therefore know that evolution happens.
Global warming is also happening and is being alarmingly affected by humans.
I want a system of health care with universal coverage and think health insurance should never be for profit—Obama and Congress didn’t go far enough.
I’m for nonproliferation of both nuclear weapons and firearms in general, and disapprove of both concealed and open-carry laws.
I think cities should be built densely with excellent public-transit systems, and that there should be a well-run nationwide network of passenger trains and high-speed rails.
I want lots of funding for public schools, a huge funding cut to the military, and more taxes on the wealthy.
I want strong, well-enforced environmental regulation and I’d like to see a national ethic of land stewardship and anti-consumerism.
I’m not a pure socialist or a pure capitalist, but I’d like to see America emulate the taxation, health-care, regulatory, education, and social-welfare systems in Canada and Nordic countries, because people there seem happier and healthier. (And I don’t see anything wrong with or un-American about the previous sentence.)
I’m also culturally liberal:
I listen to folk music and dabble with it on my guitar; I like contra dancing; I go to yoga classes and read Yoga Journal as well as Yes! Magazine.
I’m not religious, but I am deeply spiritual and embrace wisdom from many different sources, especially the New Testament gospels, Hindu and Buddhist scripture, and my own heart as I connect with nature, the vastness of the universe, and my own inner Self.
I prefer thrift stores to big-box stores, and will probably buy used even when I make more money than I do now. I do my best to reject mainstream consumer society.
I eat mostly organic food, especially meat and produce, out of concern for my health and respect for the organic/sustainable food movement.
I’m an environmentalist and so are most of my friends, working in the environmental field and spending leisure time outdoors in nature. I bike or walk to work and partly chose where to live based on the fact that I could.
I apologize too much and am overly concerned with offending other people. 🙂
I’m not saying conservatives don’t do any of the above. Although I identify as a liberal, it’s noteworthy that like everyone, I “cross over” on some issues. This is where our two-party system fails: Democrats don’t necessarily represent me on all issues, just as Republicans don’t represent every conservative on every issue.
But taken all together, I think you can see that I’m very much a part of liberal America.
And that hasn’t changed an iota from all my listening to conservatives. 🙂
