Why are our disagreements so disagreeable? Why does it seem so difficult to find common ground? Why can’t we see that our similarities are greater than our differences? Don’t we all start each day seeking good health, economic security, and continued growth as human beings for our family, neighbors, and community members?
And don’t we agree that we have these opportunities because we live in a nation based on the rule of law and a Constitutional order that not only guarantees certain rights but also contains the means by which we, the people, can create a more perfect union?
Because I believe in this nation and these principles, I am increasingly concerned by efforts to substitute political for expert judgments in public health, to ban celebrated and historic books because of the ideas expressed, and to deny historical facts like slavery and the Holocaust because they run counter to a preferred narrative. What can we do to create more robust but civil discussions about policies, ideas, and history?
The youth development organization, Global Kids, Inc., uses one approach and may show the way. Founded in 1989 and based in New York City and Washington, D.C., GK serves students in some of the most under-resourced public schools. It teaches leadership and research skills through classroom-based learning, the arts, and community participation in order to prepare students to become college-ready and active citizens.
Because GK brings together youth from diverse backgrounds, it developed a set of guidelines to promote robust but civil discourse. These guidelines include “One Mic’”, “Safe Space,” “Participation,” and “Think Globally and Act Locally and Globally.”
“One mic’” means that one person speaks at a time. They do not shout over each other. They value other voices. They listen respectfully to what is being said instead of waiting impatiently to rebut what another is saying. They eschew ad hominem statements and critique the ideas not the person.
“Safe space” means that ideas can be expressed without fear of retribution or vicious reaction. It is a space that is safe “for” exploring ideas, not safe “from” new thoughts. It does not mean a space where individuals are guaranteed protection from uncomfortable ideas. A safe space is one in which ideas can be explored, books discussed and policies debated with freedom of thought and speech.
“Participation” means that everyone is expected to contribute to the fulfillment of the exercise, the task, the program. It is the responsibility of each person to prepare carefully, participate actively and be a partner in achieving a new level of accomplishment or agreement. Participation is the act by which the individual becomes part of the community.
“Thinking globally and acting locally” means that we can learn from others, even those in other countries, and that we should use this knowledge in our local activities. With the guidance of this principle, young people have learned what other countries do about topics such as healthcare policy, gun control, housing and nutrition, and race relations. Other topics include immigration, economic justice, policing, voting, and schooling, among others. They then can discuss these issues with more knowledge and a larger context.
If these principles and guidelines can be employed successfully, and over time, by high school youth, why can’t we adopt them for Congress, school boards, and other public and private settings? Let young people show the way to learning how to discuss and disagree without being disagreeable.
Dr. Robert A. Scott, President Emeritus,
Adelphi University
*Dr. Scott is married to the founder of Global Kids, Inc., Carole Artigiani
