Skip to content

College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Brigham Young University College of Family, Home, & Social Sciences

different political views

March 29, 2017 Madelyn Lunnen

Finding Common Ground with Those who Differ Politically

Civil dialogue, both in-person and on-line, can be difficult to maintain, especially with those who differ politically. It is something, however, which has been addressed by our Office of Civic Engagement, in past and current events, and which can be done. Panelists at a 2015 Civic Engagement workshop, all of them politicians and familiar with heated debates on important topics, recommended these tips for those striving to create civility:

  • see opponents as real people
  • actively listen
  • know the full story
  • be constructive.

At a 2016 workshop hosted by the same group, panelists Brian King, Democrat Representative; Sheryl Allen, former Republican Representative; Scott Howell, former Democrat Senator; and Deidre Henderson, Republican Senator, spoke on a similar topic: Finding Common Ground with Those Who Differ Politically.

What is Civility?

Each of the panelists offered a different definition:

  • Senator Henderson: “Never impune another person’s motivations.”
  • Former Senator Howell: “Do more listening than talking.”
  • Former  Representative Allen: “Make the effort to understand the other side. Civil discourse begins with each and every one of us.”
  • Representative King: “Separate political from personal.”

How can You be Civil?

Representative King spoke about the importance of reaching out. He said, “Disarm people who might be suspicious of you. Get personal but in a positive way.” He added that he likes to seek out and get to know people with opposing political views; he talks to them about things other than politics. The Democrat also talked about remaining civil even when one’s constituents don’t want you to be. He said that politicians “greatest supporters” often want them to be “their weapon, their tool, their instrument” and not necessarily get along with others. He cautioned politicians to resist that.

Former Senator Howell said, quoting the Dalai Lama: “When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new.”

pexels-photo-38940 In the Utah State Senate, said Senator Henderson, there are 24 Republicans and 5 Democrats. “I esteem [all of] them and value their input. No bill passed solely on a partisan vote. No one party has all the answers. Hence, it’s important to listen to other people’s ideas.”

Former President of the United States Barack Obama once said, “We have to remember that we’re actually all on one team…We’re not Democrats first, we’re not Republicans first, we are Americans first. We’re patriots first. We all want what’s best for this country.”

How do YOU find common ground with people you differ with?

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Archives

  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015

Categories

  • Alumni Achievement Lecture
  • Alumni News
  • Anthropology
  • Autism Research
  • CFSL
  • Choose 2 Give
  • Comprehensive Clinic
  • Connections
  • Constitution Day
  • Cutler Lecture
  • economics
  • Experiential Learning
  • Faculty News
  • Family History
  • Fulton
  • General
  • Geography
  • Gerontology
  • Graduate Studies
  • Hickman
  • Hinckley
  • History
  • Internships
  • Kennedy Center
  • LDSP
  • marriage and family therapy
  • MPC
  • Neuroscience
  • Office of Civic Engagement
  • Online/Independent Study
  • Political Science
  • psychology
  • Redd Center
  • Scholarships FHSS
  • School of Family Life
  • Social Media
  • Social Work
  • Sociology
  • Student News
  • Three-Minute Thesis
  • Uncategorized
  • Wheatley Institution
  • Women's Studies

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1,866 other followers

Our Instagram

This Christmas season join BYU in a celebration of our differences by attending a performances, lectures, and discussions. Click the link in our bio for a list of events.

Hours & Info

990 SWKT
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT 84602
1-801-422-2083
See: https://fhss.byu.edu/Pages/home.aspx
Blog at WordPress.com.
Cancel
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
%d bloggers like this: