Monthly conversation experiment #14

If you could talk to your neighbor or family member about things that you don’t agree on, what would that conversation be about?

Posted 8/4/21

Last month, we asked our readers this: If you could talk to your neighbor or family member about things that you don’t agree on, what would that conversation be about? Here’s what we …

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Monthly conversation experiment #14

If you could talk to your neighbor or family member about things that you don’t agree on, what would that conversation be about?

Posted

Last month, we asked our readers this: If you could talk to your neighbor or family member about things that you don’t agree on, what would that conversation be about? Here’s what we received.

Erica Hart of Hankins, NY:

“The center chair represents the magic and healing that can take place when real communication happens.”

This piece is currently on display through Friday, August 13 at the Cooperstown Art Association’s annual national juried exhibit in Cooperstown, NY.

Tom Kappner of Kenoza Lake, NY:

Addressing our differences:

It is not so much about what we say, as it is about what we do.

As neighbors in a strong community, we all have differences, sometimes strong differences. But because we know each other, we treat them respectfully. We do not lecture, much less vilify. We accept the fact that we disagree on many matters and we can talk about them without becoming adversaries. That way we remain “indivisible.”

Of course a strong, inclusive community able to overcome serious divisions is an ideal we should aspire to. This means that we need to strengthen whatever bonds we have with our neighbors. So instead of demonizing and setting ourselves up as morally superior, we should always strive to solidify and deepen community bonds.

This is no easy task, especially in the age of COVID-19 when social interactions are extremely difficult at best. At the very least we need to make regular phone contacts with neighbors an ongoing feature of community life.

monthly conversation experiment, disagreement

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