Wishing for a Conversation

Even if frustration is a part of it.

This is something I posted on social media. A good dialogue came from it, which helped me to think about some things. But the basic message still resonates with me. We need to take the bold step of listening to people’s concerns and to make space for the tone in how those concerns are raised. As long as the substance of the concerns is fair, I believe it is a moral duty for us to lean in and listen to what is being said.

Why Not NPR?

A scholar and depolarization advocate whose work I respect has written an important article. I want to share the article.

But the people I hope to take his arguments seriously -people of influence in media and nonprofit work whom I have known personally since the 1990’s- are likely to recoil because the outlet that chose to publish this writing is F*x N*ws.

Because, likely, no other outlet would.

A question arises: Why not NPR? Why not the New York Times? More to the point, are my intelligent, highly educated, and empathy-oriented friends who lean in the direction of protecting the vulnerable willing to listen to thoughtful (dissenting) perspectives that were published in a media outlet that is reflexively seen as bad by the loudest, most partisan voices on their side?

If not, would they be willing to hear me out when I request that they use their influence to encourage the publication of these articles in the New York Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post, Slate, Mother Jones, and other outlets?

Most people who advocate freedom of inquiry, thought, and speech, are not secretly looking for an excuse to use bad words against minoritized groups.

They are asking us to consider things from a more nuanced perspective that takes into account multiple variables and empirical evidence.

They are asking for an authentic conversation.

I dearly look forward to a day when people can hear each other out without resorting to slogans, talking points, and false accusations of “ism”s (and that includes the use of the word “wokeism” to shut people down).

Believe it or not, most people are in fact seeking a conversation in good faith.

Good faith is what is needed now more than ever.