How to Discuss Democrat's Mistakes
Talking to Republicans about border atrocities under the Biden administration
Hello everyone!
Here’s your tip of the week PLUS two inspiring quotes and one downloadable graphic.
1 Smart Tip
One of the most important political dialogue skills is leveraging Democratic shortcomings to advance broader progressive causes. When U.S. Border Patrol agents recently abused Haitian refugees along the Rio Grande, conservative pundits quickly declared it an example of Biden’s failure. Your Republican family and friends may have chimed in.
While clearly horrific, this human-rights incident provides progressives with a “teachable moment.” Your first impulse is probably to defend the Biden-Harris administration by comparing it to the previous one. Don’t do that. Not only is the border policy indefensible, but doing so will get you into a debate that goes nowhere.
Instead of getting defensive, advance the larger anti-racism cause by leaning into the current criticism. Acknowledge the humanitarian crimes at the border, critique the Biden-Harris response, and then ask the other person what specifically they think was wrong about it. Once you’ve allied yourself with them on this issue, you can then discuss how the U.S. can create a better policy.
2 Smart Quotes
“The planet does not need more successful people. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of all kinds.”
-- Dalai Lama
“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”
-- Alice Walker
1 Smart Graphic
When we talk with people we disagree with, the temptation is to focus on our different attitudes and beliefs. But most opinion change happens through feelings and relationships not ideas. That’s why I developed the Change Conversation Pyramid. To influence others, we have to start at the bottom of the pyramid and work our way up. We can’t address problematic ideas until we make others feel safe, heard, and cared for.
Download and post this graphic as a reminder that what really matters in political dialogues isn’t what we think, but how we make others feel.
To learn more about the CCP and how to use it in political dialogues, check out this article from Progressively Speaking.
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Until next week,
Karin Tamerius