When we think of “black and white” photography, we don’t often articulate the range and depth of the various shadows and highlights that make up the image. Here in the United States, while voting for our next President, most of us got caught up in binary thinking (red vs blue) while anxiously watching continuous news coverage of a hotly contested election. How many are actively seeking to understand the range and depth of the diverse perspectives and assessments of millions of people? How many are stuck in “us-them” constructs?
And where do we go from here?
Let’s begin by remembering that when you ask 140 million people a question, you will get 140 million DIFFERENT answers. When we understand that we are just one of many, is it possible to make space for others to express their hurts and hopes and still maintain our own identity? Peaceworkers in post-war zones recognize this. Without genuine dialogue and reconciliation, the war mindset will continue to smolder. Children will inherit bitter rhetoric laced with argumentative goals of making the opposite side feel insecure and weak. How can we invest in raising up all Americans when we cannot even agree on how to listen to each other?
“E pluribus unum” translates to “out of many, one.” The United States today is one country made up of many people from numerous backgrounds and cultures. By making an effort to experience a different way of thinking, can we be open to the possibility of seeing daily life from someone else’s perspective? Make your goal to understand and listen and your neighbors will feel safe to share their stories and feelings with you. Be disciplined in reserving moral judgment and eliminate the desire to change someone’s opinion. Look for the nuanced gray shadows and highlights to build a better picture of others.