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Film Discussion – National: The Reunited States
Braver Angels
This month, we will be discussing the film titled The Reunited States.
At a time when America is ripping apart at the seams, The Reunited States is a powerful and urgent documentary that follows the unsung heroes on the difficult journey of bridging our political and racial divides. Susan Bro, who lost her daughter when a car drove through a group of counter-protestors in Charlottesville, and David and Erin Leaverton, a Republican couple who travel to all fifty states in an RV to find out what divides us, are just a few of the people profiled in the film. Each of these bridge-builders have realized that while our divides run deeper than they ever could have imagined, so does the love and hope to bring our country back together. Based on the book of the same name, the film urges us to consider that everyone has a role to play in reuniting the country.
After you register for this event, you will be provided with instructions on how to watch the documentary beforehand. Please do not register unless you plan to attend the discussion. There is a cap on the number of attendees, and if you register but don't attend, you might prevent someone else from attending.
The discussion will be held over Zoom.
Questions? Contact Donna Murphy at donna@braverangels.org.
Living Room Conversations LIVE: Trust
Living Room Conversations
Trust is a critical component of building and maintaining healthy families, communities, institutions and countries. This trust is built over time and can be challenged by people with different views or backgrounds as well as events that call into question the intent of our institutions and media.
In this live Living Room Conversation, we'll hear from people just like you reflect on key disconnects we are currently experiencing in trust. They'll consider what happens when we don’t trust the integrity of our elections, scientists, news, politicians or business leaders. And they'll explore how can we move forward and build trust for a healthier society.
When you register for this free event, you'll be sent a link to watch the Livestream on Facebook, YouTube, and Junto, Living Room Conversation's new platform. This conversation will be recorded and a link will be shared with you after the event.
We have your seat waiting for you!
Braver Angels
Can our government function without citizens subscribing to a shared sense of reality? Join Braver Angels to debate on January 28.
Join us as we take on one of the toughest issues facing America today: the fact that people live in different "fact universes." More now than anytime in recent decades, we are polarizing because of our different information sources.
Can American democracy survive this? Is a diversity of perspectives that manifest in views of "reality" essential to pluralism, or will our country fail if we don't come to a shared sense of reality?
How should we treat those we meet who live in a different "reality," especially when they try to persuade us or act on those different assumptions? Should we shun them, welcome them, correct them, or something else altogether?
All are invited to speak and ask questions at 8pm ET/5pm PT on January 28 as we debate the truth of this statement: 'Resolved: The American system of government cannot function without its citizens‘ subscribing to a shared sense of reality.'
You probably haven’t experienced anything like a Braver Angels Debate. It's not a political debate, where competing candidates attempt to win votes. Nor is it a competitive high school or college debate, where people advocate positions in which they may not believe for the sole purpose of vanquishing their foes.
A Braver Angels Debate is a highly structured conversation in which a group of people think together, listen carefully to one another, and allow themselves to be touched and perhaps changed by each other’s ideas. When done well, everyone walks out a little closer to the truth, more aware of the validity in opposing views, and with tighter community relationships.
Convergence Leadership Council Meeting
Convergence Center for Policy Resolution
The January 6th events at the nation’s Capitol put in stark relief the chasms of division confronting all of us as Americans. Our individual and collective well-being and the health of our democracy are at stake. If we don’t quickly, intentionally, and deeply begin the work of bringing Americans together to hear and understand each other, we risk our future as a thriving nation and global leader.
As we respond to the moment and set course for 2021, please join us for Convergence’s first Leadership Council Meeting of 2021 on -
Thursday, February 4th from 3-5pm ET / 12pm-2pm PT over Zoom.
In addition to responding to recent events, we hope you'll join us on February 4th for:
Updates on our progress across Convergence Dialogues.
Progress with our bridge-building efforts in our communities and institutions.
Networking opportunties with Leadership Council members and guests.
If this will be your first time attending a Leadership Council meeting, you can expect an interactive opportunity to learn about Convergence’s work to bridge divides, build trust, and develop collaborative solutions for the greater good. While this is a virtual meeting, we will still allow for ample opportunity to actively participate and contribute to our brain trust. Leadership Council meetings are a wonderful opportunity to learn more about our community.
The Village Square
We’re bringing our two favorite former Congressmen who served on opposite sides of the aisle and were repeatedly thwarted by a dysfunctional system when they (wait for it) tried to work across the aisle in Congress. A lot has happened since we chatted with them last time in 2018 — including their consideration of mounting bipartisan ticket for the presidency, and one of them leaving his political party — so we thought it was time to hang out again. Oh and they wrote a book together.
A Divided Union delves deep into ten pressing political challenges that former US Representatives Patrick Murphy (D) and David Jolly (R) have identified over their multiple terms in Congress and that continue to plague the American electorate today. In an introduction describing their unique paths to Congress, Murphy and Jolly focus in detail on key institutional barriers they faced in Washington in attempting to do the job voters elected them to do. They introduce us to geographic challenges, demographic change, a polarized media, gerrymandering, the role of money in politics, the structure of primary elections, and several other aspects of political life on Capitol Hill. Purchase the book online here.
Conversation with John McWhorter
Heterodox Academy
Join us for a virtual conversation with John McWhorter about viewpoint diversity among Black intellectuals and the state of open inquiry in higher education today.
McWhorter is Associate Professor of English and comparative literature at Columbia University. He is the author of over a dozen books on issues including race and language. His most recent book, “The Creole Debate and Talking Back, Talking Black,” was published in 2018 by Cambridge University Press. He has written countless articles and commentaries that have appeared in The Atlantic, Reason, The New Republic, Aeon, and many more. He also hosts Slate’s language podcast Lexicon Valley.
This event is open to the public. Questions? Email events@heterodoxacademy.org
Let Friendship Redeem the Republic
The Village Square
In divided times like ours and through history, brave and unlikely friendships have endured, inspired and redeemed. If you're looking for redemptive stories that involve democracy, look no further than our founding story and the deep lifelong rift between Jefferson and Adams. Their deep philosophical disagreements, referred to by Dr. Benjamin Rush as "the north and south poles of our revolution," had accelerated and curdled through ugly political fights that ensued.
Ask yourself how much time you spend really talking with friends or acquaintances who disagree with you ideologically? If you’re like most Americans, the answer is “hardly ever.” And despite all panic about the failure of democracy, we don't act to change that — even when there’s lots of evidence that suggests that if we’d just spend more time with each other as human beings it would actually make a difference.
You'll meet pairs of friends on opposite sides of the political division who maintain close friendships that deepen and enrich their lives anyway. Keep reading about Patricia Nelson Limerick, where our inspired title "Let Friendship Redeem the Republic" came from.
Host a Living Room Conversation
Living Room Conversations
Do you have friends, relatives, neighbors, students, or faith community members who you want to find a way to connect with? Living Room Conversations offers “do-it-yourself” guides to help you have meaningful, friendly and even joyful online discussions! Host your own online Living Room Conversation following their seven simple steps.