-
5 Q’s to make your next political discussion more productive
Is it possible to have a positive exchange about politics even when we disagree? Behind every strong political opinion is one (or more) of the five histories or habits presented below. Learning to recognize the WHY of an opinion makes it less threatening, easier to discuss, and more valuable to the Read more […]
-
Invite Delight: Creating space for conversations that matter
Is the space around you beautiful? I didn’t ask if it was fancy or expensive or lavish, I asked if it was beautiful. For example, Ugandans tend to keep their yards swept clean. Even if the space around the home is mostly dirt, they use the dried fronds of the mukonzkonz (“moo-CONES-cones”) Read more […]
-
The Gloves Are Off (Forgetting to honor personal power in social media)
When I spar with a boxing partner, we’re careful to wrap our wrists, and to glove-up because, while we are indeed “fighting” and hoping to “win,” we have no desire to actually hurt each other or ourselves. We have respect for one another–and for the sport–and we desire to bring honor to our power. As…
-
Things that ‘incite but don’t invite’ (5 phrases to avoid when in pursuit of civil discourse)
Those familiar with my blog and my work know that I am concerned about the lack of civil discourse in today’s communications, especially in social media. People who claim to be passionate, knowledgeable, and educated seem not to value civility, and seem to have even less respect for the notion of a Read more […]
-
Converting Confrontation Into Invitation (3 strategies for civil discourse)
A friend of mine—of another faith—told me that she recently went to her homeowners’ association meeting to confront them about the abundance of Christmas decorations in her apartment building. She strongly argued that this was not an inclusive practice, and insisted that they do something to Read more […]
-
So, I got punched in the face. (A 60-second read on addressing psycho-violence.)
-
4 Reasons I Value Disagreement
I find myself becoming a louder and louder advocate of civil discourse, of engagement in conversations where fundamental, absolute disagreement may exist, but so does esteem for the fellow-person. I believe that one can disagree without being disagreeable. The loss of respect for those with whom we Read more […]
