Inside the workshops teaching friends, neighbors & political foes to compromise

The U.S. is facing a deep crisis of polarization that is threatening our democracy. From the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol to the recent assassination attempt against Donald Trump, we are seeing that the increasingly bitter, ugly language thrown around in American politics has real life consequences. Words matter.

“Seldom has there been so much rancor in the way we talk to each other and the way we seem to have contempt for people in the other political party,” says David Blankenhorn, President of Braver Angels. “Our great experiment in ordered liberty as a nation will not survive if each half of the country really hates the other half and doesn't even want to talk to each other.”

Braver Angels is a national citizens group that brings together conservatives and liberals to try to understand one another better and find common ground on controversial issues. The organization was founded in 2016, just after the U.S. presidential election.

The name is inspired by Lincoln’s first inaugural address, in which he shares: "The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature."

“Our fundamental model is really quite simple. It's based on people talking to one another face to face,” says Blankenhorn.

Braver Angels’ primary programming is focused on one-on-one conversations and workshops that bring together conservative “Reds” and liberal “Blues” to facilitate respectful conversations. The workshops are designed to facilitate productive conversation and strengthen listening skills in order to build, what Blankenhorn calls “civic friendship,” between people with differing political beliefs.

Blankenhorn says, “We find that if we bring people together face to face, talk to people that they didn't think they would have anything in common with, they want more. It makes them feel better about the possibilities of the country.”

After the 2020 elections, studies found that folks on both sides of the political divide lack trust in American elections - from trust in the election process, to peaceful transfer of power, to voter fraud and voter suppression. The Braver Angels Trustworthy Election Campaign brought together an equal number of ‘Red’ and ‘Blue’ participants at 26 workshops across the country to share open dialogue and to uncover shared values, concerns and solutions around our electoral process.

The final report reflects the collaborative consensus of a team of evenly balanced Red/Blue leaders who analyzed and distilled the points of agreement into a report using language that they all felt comfortable with. They see the report as “a blueprint” of recommendations from citizens that can restore trust in our elections.

Blankenhorn said, “We're now taking this [report] to state officials around the country to say there's a way here.”

#democracy
#election2024
#electoralintegrity
#citizenship
#ACitizensGuide
#acitizensguidepbs

This is Episode 11 of the multi-part digital series, "A Citizen's Guide to Preserving Democracy: The Series."

Series Description:
American democracy is under threat. Do you have what it takes to be a good citizen? Join Preserving Democracy as we dig into the ten habits of good citizens in a new digital series, A Citizen’s Guide to Preserving Democracy. Explore real-life examples of Americans who are striving to build a healthier democracy and who embody the spirit of a more informed and engaged citizenry… one person at a time.

Based on “The Bill of Obligations: Ten Habits of Good Citizens,” by author and diplomat Richard Haass and the feature-length PBS documentary, A Citizen's Guide to Preserving Democracy from The WNET Group’s Preserving Democracy initiative.

Series premiere: 5.8.24

Funding for A Citizen’s Guide to Preserving Democracy digital series is provided by:
Kimberly Querrey
Dean Dakolias & Monique Cusson
Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation
Sue & Edgar Wachenheim III
Leslie & Ashish Bhutani
The Chang K. Park Foundation
Corporation for Public Broadcasting

The WNET Group’s Preserving Democracy, a public media initiative, receives principal support from:
The Chang K. Park Foundation
with additional major funding from:
William Ackman and Neri Oxman
Ronnie and Lawrence D. Ackman
The Dorothy Y. Pacella Fund
The Anderson Family Charitable Fund
Janet Prindle Seidler
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On the Brink: Playlist for Progress highlights docuseries, town halls and podcasts that tell real, human-centered stories of current, interrelated social challenges facing individuals and communities. The channel is presented by The WNET Group, a PBS content producer.

WATCH more videos and read articles on the Preserving Democracy Website:

[YTMe]

Great video. Shared! We've become so fractured, it's important we relearn how to just sit and have respectful conversations.

[JohnScargall]

Excellent video. I was particularly struck by the idea that our form of government, democratic republic, is the form of government that requires the most of its citizens, actively participating with virtue, and that it was more than voting. I never thought of it that way, and that really gave me something to think about. Thanks for posting!

[terraanders]

I thought the idea that when we take pleasure in doing what is right, even though it may be difficult or uncomfortable, we can begin to lay the foundations of virtue as a habit. I think in any discussion it takes both sides to engage, but if I can maintain a position that seeks out the good of humanity, I will be better equipped to discuss these current tough topics. I have a long way to go and to learn, but I want to start being part of unifying and not dividing.

[matthewm]

We need to compromise on our ethics, values, and morals

[weandtherv]

Wonderful project! I love our democracy and the progressive work that it can do. I don’t want someone trying to take that away! With that said, I will be voting 💙
There needs to be voting reform, but not taking away the chance to ever vote again!

[weandtherv]

An insurrection should never happen again!

[gmw]

You've got a major comment lockdown here. Good luck with the discussion..