Difficult Dialogues: Election Year Polarization
Sept 16 | 6:30pm | Oerter Hall
Election Year Polarization: Can we stay good neighbors?
Come explore how to stay connected with those we disagree with amid the polarized atmosphere of the November 2024 US presidential election.
November 2024’s US presidential election will occur against a backdrop of polarization on multiple fronts: between political parties, among various ideologies and religious affiliations, and amidst war and conflict around the globe. The stakes for this election also feel high—for civil rights, for peace around the world, and for US democracy. No matter what the outcome is after November 5, 2024, there will be people in our lives (family, friends, neighbors, co-workers) who likely will not agree with the outcomes (presidential or otherwise).
This Fall 2024 Difficult Dialogue asks how we can remind ourselves of our common humanity with those we disagree with—how we can continue to be in conversation with others who did not vote the way we voted and thus who we believe may not share our values. How do we stay good neighbors even while we may have hurt feelings or recognize the hurt feelings of others? Can we break bread together, in disagreement, acknowledging fears and anxieties but also remembering that the people we face conflict with are our neighbors?
Our panelists will talk about how to navigate these difficult conversations around politics and polarization, and we invite our audience to share their questions, concerns, and concrete ideas for how to remain in fellowship with people whose values we may question because they are at odds with our own values. Click the link to learn more about the event guidelines and panelists (including our very own Matt Koschmann).
Difficult Dialogue Series are sponsored by Center for Humanities & the Art's, CU Libraries and Grace Commons Church, and are free and open to the public.
