Patriotism and pessimism
Starts With Us
A movement to overcome extreme political and cultural division by practicing curiosity, compassion, & courage every day.
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Can we strive to see the best in our fellow citizens' views of America?
Many conservatives see liberals as suffering from a dangerous and shameful lack of patriotism. Many liberals see conservatives as having a toxic form of patriotism.
For July 4th, we’ve got some thoughts about patriotism and our pessimistic views of each other.
What defines a good citizen?
On a recent trip to Nashville, we asked people on the street what being a good American citizen means to them.
Movement updates
“You’re working with who?” On Tuesday July 9th, the organization State Business Executives is discussing the issues facing American businesses that have Democrats and Republicans working across the aisle. Read more...
A path towards peace. Stanford recently held a panel discussion with two Palestinians and two Israelis about a path toward Middle East peace. Two of the panel members work with our partners, Darkenu and OneVoice. Read more...
Comedy bridges divides. Our Movement Partner Rob Feld helped create the "Jester's Bridge to Constructive Engagement," a short course at the Heterodox Academy that pairs with Feld's short documentary, Jesters and Fools. The course uses humor to help college students “appreciate constructive and courageous engagement across disagreement.” Read more...
Make It A Habit: Be brave enough to aim for nuance
Have you ever wanted to give a nuanced or uncertain take on a contentious topic but felt people might judge you for it? A study by Joseph Siev and his team found that people who gave more nuanced and ambivalent takes on political issues were seen as less likable, warm, and competent. (No wonder our party invites have dwindled…)
Most of us know — or even just sense — that there can be social costs for not “going with the flow” of our political peers. When we can clearly see the pressures we face, we’re in a better position to consciously avoid those pressures.
Let’s commit to being brave and embracing nuance and honesty. That’s one way we can all try to shift the tides against simplistic team-based narratives — and the contempt that goes with them.
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2wI think many confuse patriotism with nationalism. #vote5 shared a good visual.