#ListenFirst Friday Yap Politics
In this edition of #ListenFirstFriday, the 17-year-old founder of YAP Politics discusses efforts to bridge the polarizations between political affiliations.
Voting
Video: Repairing America’s Broken Democracy Featuring Bradley Tusk of Mobile Voting Project
October 14, 2021
the fulcrum repairing americas broken democracy mobile voting project
Bradley Tusk is the founder of Mobile Voting Project working to use technology to make voting more accessible for many voters. The interview is part of a collaboration between Bridge Alliance and CityBiz entitled Repairing America's Broken Democracy.
Big Picture
Video: Wait, You’re Married?! How a Republican & Democrat Keep It Together
October 13, 2021
Wait, You’re Married?! How a Republican & Democrat Keep It Together | Barbara & Rick w/Mónica Guzmán
Barbara Thomas is a lifelong liberal. Rick Hotchner is a committed conservative. As a couple, they are one of a dwindling number of politically mixed marriages between Democrats and Republicans in America. On this episode of the Braver Angels podcast, they discuss their enduring relationship as a model for our divided country.
Behind The Song: Rasta Children | Playing For Change
The Fulcrum recently created a Pop Culture section based on our belief that coverage of culture can deepen the understanding of our differences and similarities, as well as discover our shared interests and common destinies. This can serve as a catalyst to help inspire people to work toward repairing and strengthening our democracy.
Our journey has included music of all types, poetry, dance, literature, painting and drawing, comedy, and drama that appeal to the human spirit — a spirit that expresses the joys, sorrows and harmonies of the heart and soul. This journey inspires us every day as we discover individuals and organizations who remind us of the connection between democracy and the arts.
One such organization is Playing for Change, created to inspire and connect the world through music. The founders of the project explain that the idea "came from a common belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people."
A brief history of Playing For Change from their website explains:
Born in 2002 as a shared vision between co-founders, Mark Johnson and Whitney Kroenke, to hit the streets of America with a mobile recording studio and cameras in search of inspiration and the heartbeat of the people and now have the Playing for Change Band with musicians from around the world. These musicians come from many different countries and cultures, but through music they speak the same language. The PFC Band is now touring the world and spreading the message of love and hope to audiences everywhere.
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Watch to this video and see if you feel the power of the positive message of the Playing For Change Band's message that "No matter who you are or where you come from, we are all united through music"
Email us at pop-culture@fulcrum.us to tell us what you think and offer other examples you have of people being united through music.
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Voting
Video: Join 240+ companies urging Congress to amend the 1965 Voting Rights Act
October 12, 2021
Join 240+ companies urging Congress to amend the 1965 Voting Rights Act
On October 5, 2021, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate. Business for America and its member companies are proud to support this legislation to ensure that voting rights are protected for all eligible Americans. In 1970, 1975, 1982, and 2006 the Voting Rights Act was reauthorized with overwhelming bipartisan support.
Diversity Inclusion and Belonging
Video: Reflection Indigenous Peoples' Day with Rev F Willis Johnson
October 12, 2021
The Fulcrum Editorial Reflection Indigenous Peoples Day Rev F Willis Johnson
Rev. Dr. F. Willis Johnson, Jr., VP of Partnerships and Programming with the Bridge Alliance, is respected for his leadership and strategies around social and racial justice issues.
Johnson shares his thoughts and reflections on Indigenous Peoples' Day.
Doc Rivers and Amber McReynolds
NBA Coach Doc Rivers interviews Amber McReynolds, founding CEO for the National Vote at Home Institute, to discuss National Voter Education Week.
#ListenFirst Friday Martha Williams
In this episode of #ListenFirstFriday, Martha Williams, Co-founder of BreakBread World talks about the importance of good, healthy, mindful conversations over food and shared humanity.
Unlike the majority of journalists who cover U.S. politics, columnist Salena Zito lives far away from the centers of power and wealth. Twice a year she leaves her home in western Pennsylvania and drives thousands of miles across the country visiting towns and rural communities, many of which supported Donald Trump for president. In this episode of the Let's Find Common Ground Podcast, we learn more about the perspective of these voters in rural communities.
Independent Voter News
Podcast: How to Win Friends & Save The Republic: A New Promise to America
October 06, 2021
In this episode of How to Win Friends & Save The Republic from the National Association of Nonpartisan Reformers, American Promise president and regular Fulcrum columnist Jeff Clements discusses the work aimed at winning the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and ensuring that every American has an equal vote and an equal voice.
Video: Repairing America’s Broken Democracy Featuring Rachel Kaganoff Stern with Junior State of America
October 05, 2021
The Fulcrum Repairing America's Broken Democracy
Rachel Kaganoff Stern is CEO of Junior State of America. Rachel shares her thoughts on the mission and impact of Junior State of America in engaging young people in government and improving their communities.
The interview is part of a collaboration between Bridge Alliance and CityBiz entitled Repairing America's Broken Democracy.
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Big Picture
Video: Breaking the Social Media Prism | Christopher Bail with Ciaran O'Connor
October 04, 2021
Breaking the Social Media Prism | Christopher Bail with Ciaran O'Connor
Social media has become a prism that distorts our identities, empowers status-seeking extremists, and renders moderates all but invisible. The Braver Angels podcast speaks with Duke professor Christopher Bail about his new book, Breaking the Social Media Prism, which challenges many common myths and reveals that the solution to political tribalism lies deep inside ourselves.
Today, The Fulcrum is introducing a new biweekly advice column entitled, "Ask Joe."
In the divided political and social worlds we live in, tensions are often high in the workplace, in online conversations, at family gatherings, and even amongst friends.
Whether they rise to conflict, or fester beneath the surface, these tensions can impact you and everyone you know.
The "Ask Joe" column is dedicated to exploring the best ways to transform tensions and bridge divides. Our resident advice columnist, conflict resolution specialist, author, and Fierce Civility Project founder Joe Weston is here to answer your questions in order to resolve tension, polarization, or conflict.
To Ask Joe, please submit questions to: AskJoe@Fulcrum.us.
Let's kick things off with a question about trust in institutions:
Dear Joe,
I have friends who distrust the media, the government and corporations. But for some reason, they believe videos on YouTube or from other individuals and many conspiracy theories. These friends are super smart. Like, genius level IQ. And the depth of research they do far exceeds the time I have to examine and apply my own reasoning.
I have more trust in the media and government, less in corporations. So I believe more of what I hear in my day-to-day life, and spend a lot less time online. How can we discuss current affairs and such, without me feeling stupid and judging them as crazy?
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Frustrated and Confused
Hello Frustrated and Confused,
I often hear this from people who are struggling with how to civilly exchange ideas with friends and loved ones. Though there are no quick fixes, certain approaches can help you stay in alignment with your values and, at the same time, find common ground.
Solutions offered by the Fierce Civility approach are simple and, albeit often times challenging to put into practice, they are effective. This pathway is designed to pivot you out of the rigidity that is created from spiraling in the realm of ideas, opinions, judgement, statistics and data, as well as pain, fear and trauma, and back to common-sense, heart-centered shifts in the dynamic.
So, you ask, "How can we discuss current affairs and such…?" Your wording already primes you for the solution. The first pivot is to avoid getting caught up in what you are discussing, and focus more on the how. If you feel that you can never win these conversations with intelligent friends, and that you end up feeling stupid and perceive them as crazy, then shift your focus. Ask yourself, which is more important to you: being right, or preserving the health and integrity of the relationship?
If the relationship is the priority, then come from your heart when speaking, and appeal to their hearts. Take care to help each other stay in your "best selves" and the heart connection that transcends current issues. You may realize something you have in common: You are both trying to navigate the current volatility and anxiety. You may also discover that, at a core level, you are both desiring to alleviate a sense of fear and fulfill a need for safety. From this shared space, recognition, healing and reconciliation can happen.
You may also want to consider how your judgment ("I'm stupid, they're crazy") is getting in the way of your authentic connection with this person whom you care about. Consider the Fierce Civility concept: My truth ≠ the truth. To illustrate: Think back to your eighth birthday. How much of that day can you remember (if at all)? If you asked those who were present on that day what they remember, would they recall the same facts as you? Who's right? Ultimately, the gift of this concept is that we get closest to the truth of any situation when we combine what each one of us remembers and how each of us sees it! Doing this requires that we listen and respond in an open, curious way.
Your situation is a classic example of the polarizing habit that we all have: the need to be right, and, therefore, deciding that others who see things differently must be wrong. When we do this, we forget that the average person has the capacity to perceive and retain only a portion of the data coming at them at any given time. This only becomes a problem when we hold the belief that the portion of what we perceive, believe or retain is the whole story.
What if you both have important information that, when combined, gives a fuller understanding of the situation? What questions would take you deeper into connection, trust, safety and a willingness to hear the other person's viewpoint? What if this combined knowledge could alleviate some of the anxiety and fear of our time for all of us, not exacerbate it?
Consider shifting the emphasis of your inquiry. Instead of focusing on why they are so trusting of social media, get more curious about what has caused them to develop a distrust of the news media, government and corporations. That's a far richer conversation that can lead to them feeling heard and understood; it may also lead you to consider new data. As well, do some of your own internal investigation: Why are you satisfied with what the news media and government tell you? Are you bearing in mind that, like all humans, they can only present a portion of the truth? This will result in an empowered vulnerability and humility that can rekindle the best in both you and your friends, and prevent further disconnection.
These pivots require courage, patience and compassion – for yourself and your friends. As we shift our focus away from the news media and online platforms, and back to one another, we rediscover that the power of the human spirit resides in our capacity to connect authentically, and to do the messy work of human relationships, no matter how smart, crazy or stupid we may be.
Trust your heart,
Joe
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In the divided political and social worlds we live in, tensions are often high in the workplace, in online conversations, at family gatherings, and even amongst friends.
Whether they rise to conflict, or fester beneath the surface, these tensions can impact you and everyone you know.
The Ask Joe column is dedicated to exploring the best ways to transform tensions and bridge divides. Conflict resolution specialist, author, and Fierce Civility Project founder Joe Weston is here to answer your questions in order to resolve tension, polarization, or conflict. Just send an email to AskJoe@Fulcrum.us and he will gladly answer your question.
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#ListenFirst Friday John Noltner
In this edition of #ListenFirstFriday, we hear from John Noltner who shares stories of hope, healing and transformation in overcoming the differences that divide us as a nation.
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