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Reds & Blues Looking for Common Ground

Some pundits say Americans are now as divided, politically, as we were during the Civil War.  Others disagree. But what we do know is that people who identify most strongly as “Reds” or “Blues” in this country are polar opposites on many issues. A workshop aimed at reducing that polarization is coming up the first week of next year in Blacksburg.

The workshop is called, “Depolarizing Within “and it’s part of the “Better Angels” movement founded in 2016 to help people learn how to bridge the growing political divide.

Jamie McReynolds is southern Virginia coordinator. “What they've found is that a lot of the polarization comes from people in their own groups dismissing and demonizing the other side. And, we're not going to reduce polarization until we can talk to each other respectfully.

Research suggests political polarization has been on the rise for some 40 years, and it’s gotten even worse over the last 20.

And that today, 60% of parents who identify with one of the two major political parties, told researchers they do not want their children marrying someone from the opposite party.

“Better Angels is an effort to try and bring people of different political and cultural belief systems together to understand each other and figure out how we can work together despite our different belief systems.”

McReynolds says, the idea is to remind participants that, both liberals and conservatives have important voices, and though they may not agree, it’s important for our society to find some common ground.

“So there is this very intentional structure, to have both Reds and Blues and to bring people into conversation, not to change people's minds, but just to better understand where conservatives are coming from versus where liberals are coming from.”

Mc Reynolds says the workshop is aimed at reversing the growing divide between reds and blues, and at figuring out how people can work together despite their different beliefs.

“I think we're kind of at a tipping point like, where we were just before the Civil War. We're the most divided we've been since the 1850's that’s where the name (for our group) “Better Angels,” comes from; President Abraham Lincoln's first inaugural address about the better angels of our nature, that we must not be enemies.”

Reynolds says the “Better Angels” organization strives for an even mix of reds and blues on their board and in their organizational structure.  And they’re hoping that reds will invite blues and blues, reds to the workshop set for January 4th in Blacksburg. 

Here is a link to the "Depolarizing Within Workshop"

Robbie Harris is based in Blacksburg, covering the New River Valley and southwestern Virginia.