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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 20, 2017)
Street Roots • Jan. 20-26, 2017 LET'S TALK, from page 8 are less likely to learn'from those we agree with than from those we disagree. It’s much easier | to make arguments about the way things should be when we aren’t hearing directly from the > people who are affected by certain policies. The more we know, engage with, listen to, care about people in contexts different from our own, the push for our policies will take in account the full spectrum of people living there. Policy is hard. That’s why we fight about it. The fuller sense we can have about policy, the more likely it is we’ll move in a positive direction. A.W.: In a lot of political conversations, we’re trying to change a person’s mind. You seem to be saying that’s not an effective end game? A.D.: We should all ask ourselves, when did I last change my mind? What were the conditions that led'to changing my mind? It’s a tough thing - it’s hard to change your mind. You have to be comfortable doing that. It’s less about changing minds, but changing attitude or changing the relationship with the person. Instead of thinking that my idea is right and that his idea is wrong, can we laugh together about a story we both find funny? Can we genuinely listen and show that person has been heard? Even if they don’t change their mind, it leads to greater likelihood that there will be greater trust down the road. News What are the small decisions thát can get people tó do it? It’s funny that we have to make efforts to remove barriers that will make it more likely that people Will be with each other. Which is to be heard? We all want that, no matter what our political beliefs are. A.W.: We seem to be living in a period of time where this sort of discourse is not valued, at least at the federal level of politics. What do you think the long-term ramifications are for not having the sort of conversations you’re talking about? A.D.: First, I would say that I don’t completely agree with the premise of the question. I think those .conversations are happening. The conversations that get the most attention are from the loudest mouthpieces. The debates, during the campaign season, were not conversations. In a way, it’s at the local level and the grassroots community, we need to keep listening to each other and hope that builds. Oregon has a strong tradition of people getting around the table and talking. A.W.: You seem very optimistic about our capacity to connect and understand one another. All signs would point away from that. A.D.: We have plenty of capacity to connect to each other. It doesn’t mean we do it all the time. To continue to tell each other and tell ourselves, “look we’re so different. Look, we A.D.: It is basic. We’re a nonprofit. Funders can hardly talk to each other.” I’m not sure who always ask, “what is your unique value that helps, nor do I think it’s accurate. In our proposition?” We’re trying to get people to work, I see people coming across differences all listen to each other, connect to each other, the time. Can we remove the obstacles to doing think fresh. It’s increasingly important now. that? I mostly grew up in Chicago. I would We’ve got to think of tactical ways to do it. spend summers working for the Forest Service A.W.: What are some of the tactical ways to do out in the Northwest in sparsely populated areas. We would ride in pickup trucks out to the it? worksite together and come out the same way. A.D.: By answering, how do you get people There’s plenty to talk about Of course there is who disagree with each other in a room suspicion of the other. But if you don’t decide together? Who’s doing the inviting? How are you beforehand that they’re objectionable from top doing the outreach? How are you setting up the to bottom, there’s an opening. That paves the chairs in the room? way for a lot of good things to happen. Tactics sound much more serious than it is. Page 9 Tel-me-vision by Aileen McPherson - It’s the magic picture box in the living room, they call it a tel-me-vision, all sorts of people live there with lots of stories to tell, but mostly they sell, sell, sell, that’s when they yell. It never fails, how much they wail, BUY my stuff/it’s on SALE, you WANT it NOW! Ask yourself can I live without it and how? NO! you say, I must buy it today, it’s grand, it’s new, I must have it before any of YOU.; So, I see my family, sitting and eating in front of the TV, watching stories of dramas old, horrors bold, histories retold, and news cold. Matters not, it’s all rot, nothing’s real, it’s all zeal Just lots of random entertainment to go with a mfeal. And so they appeal, to all they can, with a flashy smile and waving hand, Emulate us and your life will be as grand. It’s all lies, can’t they understand It is not grand, just an entertaining scam. 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