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Bridge the Divide Part 1

Bridge the Divide Part 1play icon
Our Last Night - "Common Ground" (OFFICIAL)
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David L. Nevins
By David L. NevinsDec 27, 2021
David L. Nevins
David L. Nevins serves as publisher of The Fulcrum. Additionally, Nevins serves as co-founder and Board Chairman of the Bridge Alliance. Nevins brings business acumen, vision and a tireless this-must-and-can-be-done zeal to the burgeoning movement to bridge divides to transform the political process. As a business leader, Nevins excels at building bridges between people and organizations from the right, left and center for civilized conversation and then action. He co-founded the Bridge Alliance because, as he says, “No matter how well managed and how well funded anyone organization is, significant political reform will not happen without an alliance to further collaborative interactions. Together we can and will raise the collective impact of all.” He is a member of the Aspen Institute Society of Fellows, with a focus on the Aspen Rodel Fellowship in Public Leadership, he established and continues to work with The Nevins Democracy Leaders program at Penn State University. Nevins graduated with honors in economics from Penn State in 1969 and received an M.B.A. in finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1971.
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The suffocating partisanship that most Americans abhor has reached historic levels. Our elected leaders focus on accusations, innuendos, misinformation and vilifying those with opinions that differ from our own, rather than attempt to find any common ground to solve the serious problems facing our nation.

The vicious “winning is all” climate, the “meant to mislead” rhetoric, the extreme and polarizing factions, and the sheer lack of decency are tethering our nation to a new low.

As we watch so many of our leaders posturing against each other with twisted facts and vitriolic disdain, solely to win the sacred trust of the electorate, we ought to be asking ourselves, “Is this particular behavior having the effect of raising or lowering the level of discourse and understanding between and among us as citizens?”

It is time for us to realize that we the people are as much to blame for this unacceptable behavior as the politicians. More and more we are separated in our own silos, communicating only with those who share our opinions, embracing information that supports our beliefs, and ignoring or distorting evidence contrary to our beliefs. Although understandable, this tendency can blind us from the facts and the truth.

Fortunately, there are many song writers and performers who through it all try to use their platforms to find common ground.

Enjoy the first of a five-day series of “ Bridge the Divide ” performances from an array of artists who address the subject from different perspectives but all with the same goal: finding common ground.

As Americans it is time for us to see through the charade and step up to the plate and support leaders who want something better. The division will continue unless We the People demand something better.

Enjoy “Common Ground,” a powerful song by Our Last Night that has been viewed by more than 3 million people since it was first produced.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjGzRCD7B14

Do these lyrics resonate with you?

It's so hard to find the truth

When the other side wants to bury you, to bury you

And it's so hard to find a way

When the other side wants to play you like a game

It's all about who's wrong and who's right

Don't wanna learn, we just wanna fight

If different thinkers are enemies

Just think what we could be if our thoughts were in harmony

I know we both want to do the right thing

But the needle in our compass is trembling

Trapped in the flame as our house burns down

Left for dead 'cause we can't find common ground

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