When I see or hear people trying to bully others into silence on the political issues at hand, I think that people have forgotten what freedom means. Our country’s founders often expressed their beliefs with passion and intensity. It’s no secret that our nation is dangerously divided with many Americans wanting nothing to do with people with differing viewpoints. It’s easy to talk to people who share your thoughts or beliefs, but it’s necessary and very important that we converse with those with different perspectives. No matter our political views, if we only listen to certain news outlets on repeat, converse only with those who share our opinions or engage in confirmation bias, we will live in a vacuum. Open-mindedness has its benefits in a democracy.

Do we really believe that everyone should think alike? Original thought is to be valued. It fosters progression, if used wisely. It encourages innovation, creativity, invention and growth.

It’s one thing to disagree with someone, but a dangerous precedent has been set by instigators who have something to gain by encouraging others to demonize people for their beliefs. A civil society can only move forward if we try to find some common ground. Often times there are more things than we realize that those with opposing viewpoints can agree upon.

I was listening to Alan Alda’s podcast, Clear and Vivid this week. I find people intriguing who are interested in the world and Alda is very inquisitive, particularly about science. I believe learning keeps us young. Curiosity paired with an open mind is a dynamic combination. I listened to Alda’s interview with Fred Guttenberg, a well-known gun safety activist and Former Republican Congressman Joe Walsh that provided hope that thoughtful people can come to a consensus on some contentious issues. Don’t we all need that right now, hopefulness? These two men thought they were polar opposites on the issue of guns, but found they had many opinions about the issue in common. Guttenberg whose 14-year-old daughter Jaime was killed in the 2018 Parkland school shooting and Walsh who was a staunch progun supporter had a very public feud and insulted each other on X, formerly known as Twitter and on television programs for a few years. Their perspectives began to shift when they turned their public dispute to a private one and engaged in respectful conversations. I think deference is an undervalued but vital component in any interaction or relationship. It’s a skill that desperately needs to be demonstrated regularly in our society.

Last February, the pair started a speaking tour, “Two Dads Defending Democracy.” The men are modeling how people from opposite ends of the political continuum can find common ground on contentious issues such as gun safety. They are speaking at college campuses all around the country, exhibiting how to overcome polarization through civil discourse. The fact that these men are trying to stimulate change in this regard is inspiring. They have given up arguing, just spinning their wheels essentially, and have shifted gears to actually trying to improve the world.

There’s a lot of talk right now about the founding fathers and what they intended when writing the Constitution. We need to remember that they almost never agreed on anything. When I listen to everyone’s opinions about the state of the country and politics, I can’t help but think about them, but not in the way that people usually think, that they would be appalled if they could see what is happening now. But more along the lines of how all these opinions and the passionate way that American’s are feeling and expressing themselves is exactly the manner in which they expressed themselves. What they did agree on was the basic belief that the republic and liberty were very important. Where their struggle began was in agreeing on how to define those beliefs. One indication that they didn’t all agree on everything was the fact that not everyone signed the Constitution. George Mason disagreed so vehemently that he refused to sign and went as far as to publish a pamphlet describing how the states should refuse to ratify the document.

We need to consider that although people may disagree on candidates and some of the issues, those voicing their beliefs and engaging in the political conversations have something in common. They love their country. That in itself is a good starting point and something to build hope upon. We need to follow the lead of Guttenberg and Walsh and find our common ground and converse with the intention of comprehending what is said, instead of thinking about how to voice our viewpoint.

We are all flawed individuals, just as the founders knew they were imperfect while trying to form a new nation. They knew they couldn’t solve all the problems they had at the time, much less foresee all the problems that would arise in the future.

This election season many are pulling strings that would have us distracted from what’s at stake in this election by creating a big divide among people. But we can’t allow these puppeteers to turn us into politically prejudiced marionettes and intolerant of those who disagree with us. We can’t afford to be manipulated and triggered by those who have something to gain by creating disharmony. Surely, we are more intelligent than to fall for the political shell games, stunts and divisive tactics being employed.

The very concept of democracy is based on the fact that people will and do disagree and there’s room for those differing views. The key is respect. Respecting and tolerating others’ rights to think and voice their beliefs would improve the political landscape. If people would respect the views of others, it would change our country.

Pam Lowe is the editor of the Clay County Courier. Readers may contact Pam at plowe@cherryroad. com