In an effort to foster civil political discussion, the League of Women Voters Park Rapids (LWV) hosted “Civil Rights in an Anxious World.”
Local panelists shared advice for bridging the partisan divide during the hour-and-a-half forum. It was held on May 2nd.
In her opening remarks, LWV President Carolyn White said, “Nearly everyone across the country and in our community has expressed concerns about a number of issues, especially the partisanship we see in the upcoming elections.” said.
White said LWV members spoke to many organizations when hosting the event. “During our conversations, many members noticed that people were using the same adjectives to describe how they felt about the current environment: anxious, nervous, lack of civility, rudeness, lack of trust, Words like polarization, partisanship, etc. This list shows how stressed and anxious we are.”
Mr White said LWV received feedback that this was a much-needed dialogue. “People seem to be looking for a community where they can respectfully discuss their differences, listen to each other, and strive to reach common ground,” White said. “Whether city, county, state, or country, governments and civic organizations are established to solve problems that affect us all. You won’t find solutions that work for your community if you avoid them.”
Shannon Geisen/Enterprise
White noted that voter turnout in Hubbard County was high, about 85% to 90%, which shows there is confidence in local elections.
There is also evidence of cooperation between local authorities and organizations, she said.
Steve Norby is senior pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church in Park Rapids. He reflects on the usefulness of the Serenity Prayer. “It’s about accepting the things I can’t change and the perspective of others. But the courage to change what I can, which is who I am and my reactions. And to share my serenity with others. It’s about not giving in and staying true to your values wherever you take them.”
Norby said the church is “intentionally remaining neutral.” “One of the reasons for that is because we are exempt from taxes. If we decide as a congregation to be political and partisan, we have to pay taxes. Period. ” he said.
Joshua Horn, pastor of First Baptist Church in Park Rapids, said people in Bangladesh and Indiana are more likely to be unkind to people with whom they disagree, “because you’ll never see them again.” I commented.
In small towns, there’s even more incentive to be kind. That’s because they’re more likely to meet again and “the consequences are greater,” he says.
He suggested avoiding fallacies such as:
- “We are more different than we are the same.”
- “Fighting is the only way to make things right.”
- “Anyone who disagrees with me is my enemy.”
Horne repeated the parable of the Good Samaritan. A Jewish man was robbed and left for dead, but a Samaritan stopped and helped him, even though Jews and Samaritans were enemies.
“Jesus told that story right after He said to love your neighbor as yourself,” Horne said. “Who are your neighbors? Yes, it’s the person behind the keyboard in South Dakota or Florida. It’s the person you receive text messages or emails from. It’s also the people you live with. We We are simply called to love everyone.”
Kent Herring is an ambassador for the Bemidji chapter of the Braver Angels.
In the Marine Corps, Herring said, “I served with men and women who were different from me. We came from all over America. We looked different. We told different stories. We We had different opinions, different ideas. But we can’t protect America with a Marine Corps that values our differences over our commonalities. We must remember what unites us. I have been trained that our lives depend on each other, and that has become an important part of my reality.”
Similarly, Braver Angels is a nonpartisan organization that encourages in-depth debate between conservatives and liberals and trains them to better understand, interact, and find common ground with each other.
Herring quoted President Abraham Lincoln as saying: I have to get to know him. ”
Herring offered to help start the Park Rapids chapter of the Braver Angels. Contact him at 218-209-5423 or khering@braverangels.org. The website is www.braverangels.org.
Two students from Park Rapids Area High School participated in the panel. They were senior Anna Eckman and junior Aracely Guiterrez.
There is little political tension or debate among students at the school, he said. Both expressed interest in better understanding voter registration and concerns about polarization in the country.
“I think a lot of people, especially in our age group, are very influenced by what their parents think, what their friends think, what social media shows them about politics,” Guiterrez said.
The entire forum can be viewed on Enterprise’s Facebook page or on the LWV Park Rapids Area YouTube channel.
Park Rapids LWV is a nonpartisan organization. White said he has been active in the community off and on since 1935. Its mission is to encourage informed and active participation in government through education and advocacy.
