The only thing that counts...

Because of this weird work I do, I sometimes find myself dipping deep into a conservative-dominated conversation, then deep into a liberal-dominated conversation — or vice-versa — always coming out a little stunned.

It is so surreal to hear good people share completely different views on what our national leadership is up to. 

If you lean “Blue” and wonder how in the blazes you could hear everyday “Reds” get real about how they see such things in what feel like wild and scary times, or if you lean “Red” yourself but never get far in conversations with other conservatives before intra-party divisions flare up and shut things down, have I got a video for you. 

It was recorded live on Zoom on March 8, and features two groups of conservative Americans sharing their concerns and hopes about the Trump administration.  

One group generally supports what President Trump is doing, the other doesn’t, and the compare/contrast is one of the most illuminating things I’ve seen in a while.  

Check it out on Braver Angels’ YouTube channel: Fishbowl Reflections on the Trump Administration. 

Toward the end of the video, one of the participants, Sabrina, made what to me was a gentle and beautiful plea. She addressed it to her fellow conservatives, but its spirit crosses the aisle:

I think conservatives — and I say this as a conservative — we have a tendency in a good way to want to focus on being present in the community we’re in: with our families, with our jobs, with our churches. That’s good. 

At the same time, I think it’s also important that we try to seek out conversations with those of the other side… Take time to listen to them… But also, if they want to know and are genuinely curious, share with them…

I don’t think anything is going to get any better unless we also on the right start to share more in good faith what we care about and why we care about it instead of shutting out the other side because we feel that we’ve been demonized and called “stupid” and hurt. Which is fair, but I still think it’s really important…

That’s something I’m trying to do more. It’s been really encouraging. I hear people say all the time, “I never thought of it that way.”

I know conversations like this one don’t have the answers so many of us crave. But I think they light things up so we can take a better look.

Stay curious, all.