No one is meant to always get along with everyone. We have varying lived experiences, opinions, needs and wants for our lives. We can be selective, without issue, regarding how we choose to and with whom we spend our time. Even the closest families may find themselves disagreeing over which movie to watch for the evening or the type of cranberry sauce that should be served with the holiday meal. (We won’t take a poll at this moment.)
As time continues, these discussions have turned into debates surrounding political folly, ideologies, and overall interactions – going back and forth with a close friend, a loved one, or an acquaintance.
And there have been instances where a person can’t even place signage about their favorite sports team on their lawn without potentially causing a riff with their next-door neighbor. While that may seem mild, the reality is these instances and much more intense ones, occur.
It wasn’t always this way. What brought us here?
Is it the immense amount of digital access we have which allows us to not only gain news in real-time, but also gain access to varying opinions and thoughts, just as quickly? And oftentimes puts us in positions where we are arguing with “Bill” on Facebook and we don’t know Bill and will never meet Bill in person.
What happened to the days of simple discourse? Days where we could respectfully agree to disagree and still move on with one another, sharing a laugh or a meal, or at least shaking hands at the end of the discussion?
Our client Dr. Alaine Arnott, President and CEO of the National Liberty Museum (NLM) in Philadelphia, recently shared her thoughts around this very topic. Confronting What Divides Us, published in the Philadelphia Inquirer, carries a very strong message and speaks to the role museums play in bringing people together. A couple of lines that stood out:
“In a democracy, conversation isn’t a luxury, it’s a responsibility. And meaningful dialogue asks something of us: courage, humility, and a tolerance for discomfort.”
Dr. Arnott notes we will have interactions and discussions that cause challenges and may be uncomfortable. That’s life. But those moments can bring people together. Respect is key.
Through programming and exhibits, the National Liberty Museum encourages these conversations and connections. For more information about their upcoming events, visit https://www.libertymuseum.org/programs-events/.
To read Dr. Arnott’s full piece in the Inquirer, click here.