A Jew & Muslim’s letter to students: "10 Ways to Side With Humanity"
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A letter to college students co-written by a Jew and a Muslim
“As division disrupts college campuses nationwide, I wanted to share this message I wrote with my friend and fellow Builder, Lonnie Ali… We believe that the overwhelming majority of students want to supplant the forces that divide, destroy, and diminish with ones that unite, build, and bring light to the world. We believe most students ultimately want to replace polarization with problem-solving to build a better future for all.”
??— Daniel Lubetzky, Founding Partner of Starts With Us?
We wanted to reshare an important message for young people about extremism:?
News and views
Why does trying to change minds often backfire??
When asked how to change people’s minds, The Daily Show contributor Jordan Klepper emphasized the importance of embracing humility and uncertainty if one wants to make a connection with others and maybe, eventually, persuade them. Having an attitude of “I’m completely right and you’re completely wrong” will backfire and deepen our division.??
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Movement updates
New legislation aimed at bridge-building. A bipartisan group of congresspeople introduced the Building Civic Bridges Act (BCBA). If passed, it would “provide funding for programs that help get people talking again — the crucial first step toward dealing with the many challenges that affect us all.” To learn more about the BCBA and how you can support it, go to Resolutionaries.org.
Make It A Habit: Don’t take the “hate bait”
Our divides can tempt us to respond to political opponents in hateful ways. Our hate, in turn, begets more hate. It can be a self-reinforcing cycle.?
To help break this cycle, consider if we may be contributing to it (intentionally or accidentally). On their Beyond Intractability site, Guy and Heidi Burgess write:?
[One thing you can do is] figure out what makes [the other side] so angry at you. Then, to the extent possible, don’t do that. … We suggest all of us “look in the metaphorical mirror” and see how you look to the other side. Do you look “ugly?” If you are calling other people names, if you say you are going to “wipe them out,” silence them, prevent them from voting, from getting a job, from going to a good school — yes, you are going to be seen as “ugly” and “hateful” and as a person who should be treated the same way in return.?
This has been the Starts With Us newsletter.
Colonel USMC (ret)
10 个月Daniel, thank you for your leadership in bringing our diverse communities together in a constructive and collaborative way. You are an inspiration to all who observe you in action. Semper Fidelis, Vance