Braver Angels is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing Republicans and Democrats into dialogue and helping them understand each other.
GARDEN CITY, ID — A cup of boiling caffeine couldn’t even melt the ice cap tugging at the belt loops of 20 divided Idahoans on opposite ends of the political polarization.
The Braver Angels Idaho Chapter, a subgroup of a larger national nonprofit organization, hosted a Red/Blue workshop to promote dialogue instead of conflict. The organization was founded by three men after the 2016 presidential election. One of our nation’s founding fathers, a marriage counselor by trade, concluded that the country’s divisions are similar to those of a couple on the verge of divorce.
Braver Angels Idaho co-chairs Rob Hanson and Dan Long are urging for the pledge to be renewed.
“At that point, we might break down, but we might be able to commit to mutual respect and dignity and integrity,” Hanson said. “You take the worst you see from the other side and apply it to the group as a whole. When it’s a very complex and personal issue, that’s completely unhelpful to the problem.”
Red/blue workshops separate each side. Each group, in its own comfort, imposes on itself stereotypes that other groups will consider to be true. Each side generates arguments about why these stereotypes are wrong and why these stereotypes are right.
They call it the “core of truth.”
“So we have to be open to criticism to some extent. Stereotypes and kernels of truth have forced us to see things through other people’s eyes,” said Patrica, a participant in Blue. Nelson said. “Then you have that aha moment where you’re like, Okay, that’s why they see us this way and label us this way.”
Red participants concluded with four stereotypes with common themes: intolerance, anti-science, anti-environment, and heartlessness.
The Blues found their fault with baby killers, elitists, socialists and unpatriots.
Both sides came together to share the results, explain the errors in each side’s thinking, and also acknowledge the truth.
“Yeah, maybe people [abortion] “It’s a contraceptive, and our facility is not suitable for that. We don’t agree with that,” Blue Team spokeswoman Blake said.
The Blue Team further acknowledged liberal shifts in American universities among students, professors, and administration, which could be perceived as a form of elitism. I also noticed a difference in the way blue people express their patriotism compared to red people. Bruce believes that driving change is the desire and belief that we can make our country better.
“Some of us are racist, sexist and intolerant,” Red spokesman Peter Oliver said. “And maybe we get a little desensitized. That’s why we give tough love.”
Reds concluded that hard work is a proven way to get better in life. They hold people to that standard, the same standards they hold themselves to. Skepticism in science is not a rejection of a discovery, but a desire for the same conclusion to be consistently reproduced to prove its worth.
“We don’t just take it all hook, line and sinker,” Oliver said. “We doubt that.”
The workshop concludes with what the organization calls a “fishbowl.” The chair consists of two circles. One small circle is surrounded by the outer circle. Each faction takes time to discuss in the center, but outsiders can only listen.
A red protester in the center brought blue protester Janice Fulkerson to tears several times. Red participants expressed disgust at strong anti-abortion laws that are not accompanied by adequate social institutions to support women through unplanned pregnancies.
“She said the things I could have said,” Fulkerson said. “It was adorable.”
Braver Angels will be hosting a free virtual workshop titled “Skills to Dissent Better” this Thursday at 7 p.m. You can register for this event here.
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