In many ways, Mike Banovetz and Emily Ruth have a lot in common.
They both love Ely’s location, which allows for an easy escape to the Boundary Waters lakes.
But in other ways they are really different.
Banovetz was born and raised here, while Roos is a newcomer. Banovetz is a conservative, while Roos considers himself politically moderate.
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But late last year, the two were drawn to their local chapter of Braver Angels, a national organization that helps communities bridge issues that divide their communities and is also MPR News’ partner in the Talking Sense project.
In Ely, the community hopes these workshops and meetings will help people have more productive conversations about things that divide people, like mining, the environment and national politics.
Zabar’s Bar in downtown Ely on Jan. 17. The bar is unashamedly pro-mining in a community divided over the issue of mining.
By Katherine Richert | MPR News
Banovetz has since joined the Ely chapter’s steering committee and helps set the agenda for future meetings.
He said he learned at Braver Angels that the language used when discussing politics can be polarizing, so he tries to exempt himself, especially in the opinion pieces he sends to local newspapers.
“I’ve toned down my letters to the editor. They were pretty harsh,” he said. “In college, I learned some things from a professor. She said, ‘If you want to make an opinion, use compelling facts.’ So that’s what I do. I use compelling facts.”
For example, Banovetz said he is considering softer language to describe President Joe Biden and his policies.
“You can say, ‘The president is a really terrible person,'” he says, “but you should say, ‘The president has serious cognitive problems.'”
Active community member Mike Banovetz poses for a portrait at the Erie Rod and Gun Club on Jan. 18.
Erica DiSchino, MPR News
Meanwhile, Ruth is also putting into practice what he learned from the Braver Angels, especially in his work as chairman of the Zoning Commission.
“I try to give every committee member a platform to voice their opinions and ask deeper questions to understand why they think the way they do,” she said. “And once we get to the why, I feel we can come to a consensus. Because ourwhy“That’s a lot closer than you previously thought.”
Ruth feels encouraged by what she saw at the Braver Angels meeting.
“I realized that while there may be a fair number of people who seem on the surface to lean Democrat, there are actually a lot more who are in the middle,” she said. “I think that realization is a really big thing.”
But Roos and Banovetz acknowledge there is still a lot of work to be done, including attracting attention to the civil dialogue project.
Banovetz, a member of the steering committee, said he has heard there is still distrust in Ely’s overall political stance.
“[I hear that] “Democrats don’t want to listen to Republicans,” he said. “Republicans say, ‘I don’t care what the Democrats have to say. They’re in power and they’re going to do whatever they want, so why should I show up?'”
But Banovetz isn’t giving up, with debates on guns, mining and presidential candidates on the agenda this fall.
