AF-Jackson’s Community Discussion about Reconciliation

AF-Jackson, Millsaps College, Duke University Center for Reconciliation, & Braver Angels hold a community chat about finding common ground.

A majority of Americans—67%—believe it’s important to get along with people they disagree with politically, according to a recently released study by researchers at Harvard Graduate School of Education called “Bridging America’s Political Divide.” Eighty-three percent of the survey’s approximately 1,400 respondents said they could respect someone who disagrees with them politically as long as the person respected them back. And 80% said they would be “happy” to engage in conversations with people who have opposing political views—as long as the conversation was considerate, with neither party belittling or disparaging the other.

The goal should be to focus on what we have in common: the shared history, goals, aspirations and values.

And yet true reconciliation will take more than good communication skills. To restore genuinely friendly relations with friends, family members and those in our communities, we need to move past our mutual hostility and heal. This will require us to listen, to try to understand why people feel differently than we do, and to find and focus on the things we have in common.

Join us for a cordial discussion about finding ways to work together while also leaving this place better than we found it.