Why Dialogue
Divided, confused, isolated, angry, and afraid. The people of the United States are in a tough spot right now. Through the events of the last several months–a fraught election cycle, the inauguration of Donald Trump, megafires in California, ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine, and instability in the financial markets–I have been carefully observing my fellow citizens to understand whether the time is right for civil discourse among like-minded citizens and across differences of perspective. My answer is an emphatic “yes”. Any person in their right mind would respond to my musings by asking why.
Civil Discourse is Lacking
Here is my rationale. What I have mostly observed is that people are extremely reticent to talk about anything right now. In the metaphorical public square, I hear plenty of chatter about everyday things like kids soccer games, the hot new restaurant, or big upcoming games. At the same time, I hear almost nothing said about politics, the direction of the nation, the economy, job security, healthcare, our education system, or global affairs. The same is true when I am sitting in a restaurant. Yes, I am that guy who listens for bits and pieces of conversations that are happening at the adjacent tables. Mostly, I hear small talk, joking, and laughter. No meaningful civil discourse. My experience at my workplace has been quite similar. I work in an independent secondary school with a very diverse faculty that includes people of color, immigrants, members of the LGBTQ+ community, people with different political affiliations, and a range of socio-economic circumstances. The community is friendly and generally quite accepting. The primary tool employed by teachers at the school is facilitated dialogue and collaborative problem solving. Yet, when I pass colleagues in the hall and ask them how they are doing, I usually hear responses like “I’m doing well” or “great”.
Uncertain Times
Since I am not one to take things at face value, I don’t actually believe that everyone is doing “great” or that they have no thoughts, opinions, or emotions about the topics that matter for the future of our families, communities, nation, and the world. In fact, I believe the opposite is true. My therapist friends tell me that their offices are filled with stressed out people. No matter where people fall on the political spectrum, most people are acutely aware of the fact that these are uncertain times. Constant technological innovation, a changing economy, a higher cost of living, new legislation, severe weather events, and the shifting sands of politics are impacting all of us.
The Need for Community
This is why I see an acute need for more, not less, community conversation and dialogue about the things that matter right now. Human beings are social creatures. In uncertain times, we need each other. We need to feel connected, valued, and understood. That said, it is my belief that most people feel overwhelmed by the idea of having constructive dialogue right now. They don’t feel equipped with the tools to listen deeply, ask questions to understand, and respond respectfully while still sharing what is true for them.
Brave Organizations and Communities
This is where the opportunity lies for brave organizations and communities that want to stand out and be great. They can seize the moment by meeting the real needs of the people who they serve and the nation in which we live. This is the time to offer effective communication training so that people can learn to have difficult conversations in a respectful manner. This is the time to create safe spaces where people can come together and have open, honest dialogue about the topics that matter most. Meaningful dialogue at this moment, whether at home, at work, at school, in the supermarket, or in a place of worship has the potential to build understanding, empathy, and hope. Furthermore, it is an essential element of a healthy democracy and a society that works. Dialogue is a simple, yet potent antidote to the fear, anger, confusion, apathy, and loneliness that many of us are feeling. The time is now for dialogue!