“Practical Ways to De-Polarize” American Society”

The December 2020 interview on “Glen’s Parallax Perspectives” TV series (also watchable on your computer) will remain very timely long after it airs on cable TV in Thurston County WA.  Our nation is sharply polarized regarding politics and public policy issues.  Many Americans recognize that we must heal the extreme polarization that is tearing our country apart.  Three guests share their insights and remedies so all of us can help to de-polarize our nation.

Thurston County’s people with cable TV can watch it 14 times throughout December (Mondays 1:30 pm, Wednesdays 5:00 pm, and Thursdays 9:00 pm) on channel 22.  Also, people anywhere can watch it at any time through this blog post.  Also SEE BELOW for links to watch the video interview and/or read a thorough summary withlinks to further information.

Two guests draw upon their exceptional knowledge and skills about how to resolve conflicts.  Susan Partnow and Rachel Eryn Kalish have extensive experience with the Compassionate Listening Project (www.compassionatelistening.org).  They encourage using deep listening and empathy to understand people anywhere on the political spectrum and help them recognize their deep needs and values.  Our guests urge using compassion and building connectedness.

Our nation has become more and more polarized in recent years, but we can make progress toward healing – and solving problems – if enough people of good will would listen deeply and practice compassion instead of merely blaming and trying to defeat people on the other side.

This does NOT mean ignoring our values.  Nor does this mean compromising our beliefs about issues or simply meeting our adversaries half way.  Instead, this TV interview is all about how we can actually help everyone protect our common humanity even while we help our nation make progress toward solving problems.

This interview will air on cable channel 22 of Thurston Community Media (www.tcmedia.org) three times a week throughout December 2020 (1:30 pm Mondays, 5:00 pm Wednesdays, 9:00 pm Thursdays).

Also, everyone everywhere can watch this interview – and/or read a thorough summary of what we said (and links to additional information) through these links:.”

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE INTERVIEW:  December 2020 VIDEO INTERVIEW

CLICK HERE TO READ A VERY THOROUGH SUMMARY of what we said during the interview.  It ends with links to information resources:  SUMMARY and RESOURCES for December

Also see EVEN MORE RESOURCES at this link:  2020.11 De-Polarization — MORE RESOURCES

Also see a collection of many people’s wise quotations relevant to de-polarizing people at this link:  Many quotations about de-polarizing society and using nonviolence to solve problems – Glen’s Parallax Perspectives

 

In addition to the resources linked above, here are two more resources relevant to these TV programs:

#1. Some people have been using a sensible, compassionate way to connect across divides such as politics, age, gender, race, nationality, etc.  To help you build bridges, see information, resources, and more at this website:   www.LivingRoomConversations.org

#2. Two prominent university professors — progressive black Socialist Cornel West and conservative white market-supporter Robert George — are close friends who disagree about political issues in civil and respectful ways, but they love each other as fellow human beings.  Their friendship is deeper than their profound political differences.  Watch this interesting interview (shorter than 30 minutes):  https://www.kcts9.org/show/firing-line/episode/cornel-west-robert-george-crixuk

 

Questions?  Contact Glen Anderson, the TV series’ producer/host at (360) 491-9093 glenanderson@integra.net 

 

About GlenAnderson 1499 Articles
Since the late 1960s Glen Anderson has devoted his life to working as a volunteer for peace, nonviolence, social justice, and progressive political issues. He has worked through many existing organizations and started several. Over the years he has worked especially for such wide-ranging goals as making peace with Vietnam, eliminating nuclear weapons, converting from a military economy to a peacetime economy, abolishing the death penalty, promoting nonviolence at all levels throughout society, and helping people organize and strategize for grassroots movements to solve many kinds of problems. He writes, speaks, and conducts training workshops on a wide variety of topics. Since 1987 he has produced and hosted a one-hour cable TV interview program on many kinds of issues. Since 2017 he has blogged at https://parallaxperspectives.org He lives in Lacey near Olympia WA. You can reach him at (360) 491-9093 glen@parallaxperspectives.org