knowyourneighbor

The Sneetches

If you're looking for a way to introduce the topic of reaching across the aisle, check out Dr. Seuss' The Sneetches.

It begins:

Now, the Star-Belly Sneetches
Had bellies with stars.
The Plain-Belly Sneetches
Had none upon thars.

Those stars weren't so big.  They were really so small
You might think such a thing wouldn't matter at all.

For a list of more books we can use to teach children (and adults) about Knowing our Neighbor, click here.

Any other books you'd recommend?

Rachel Esplin's Tutorial on Dialoguing about our Faith

If you have any interest in better engaging with others about matters of faith, watch this video of 20 year-old Rachel Esplin being grilled by veteran Washington Post reporter Sally Quinn.

Ms. Esplin is so unflappable, conversational, articulate, and heartfelt, it is easy to forget that were one of us to be asked the questions that Ms. Quinn asked -- we would be hard pressed to do even half as well.

Here's what I learned.

It is ok for us to talk openly, matter-of-factly, about what we believe.

In doing so, we can make friends, build bridges, forge alliances.

As Richard Bushman so aptly wrote -- we (meaning Mormons, Christians - and the devoutly religious generally) are in an era where we need to make friends.

Thank you Rachel Esplin for the tutorial.

A call to civility and community

This editorial recently appeared in the Deseret News.  

What if each of us were to think through the question -- how can I engage with another person on a topic about which we strongly disagree -- and do so civilly?

 

I'm a neophyte in these matters, but I'd like to learn.

***

Down with bad behavior

Deseret News editorial

Published: January 30, 2009

With apologies to Mark Twain, civility is just like the weather. Everyone talks about it, but no one ever does anything about it. Meanwhile, rolling clouds of thunderous insults and disrespectful behavior seem to be invading everywhere from the Internet to the halls of the Legislature.

That may be because no one knows exactly what to do. When folks apparently aren't taught proper behavior in the home, it's hard to give them a remedial course.

But that hasn't stopped local attorney John Kesler, who strongly believes Americans can exercise free-speech rights and advocate passionately for their core convictions without getting in the faces of their neighbors or showing disrespect. Kesler heads a nonprofit group called the Salt Lake Center for Engaging Community. He has won the support of some influential Utahns, such as Supreme Court Chief Justice Christine Durham, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and Salt Lake Mayor Ralph Becker, among others.

We hope he can get all state lawmakers to sign on soon, as well. In recent years, committee chairmen have routinely excluded public comment from hearings on bills or have allowed people to shout down others who are advocating one position or another. Sometimes lawmakers violate their own rules of procedure or simply make up their own on the spot.

But boorish behavior is by no means confined to Capitol Hill. It can be found in many city council chambers and in the anonymous posts left on virtually any newspaper or blog site. Anonymity is no cover for bad behavior. It still reflects on a person's character and ought to gnaw on his or her conscience.

Kesler's group has a set of ground rules for respectful behavior. Mainly, these have to do with recognizing the rights of others and their dignity as human beings. Specifically, they call for people to avoid "intimidation, ridicule, personal attacks, mean spiritedness, reprisals against those who disagree..."

The things your mother probably taught you, in other words. And if she didn't, the things you now need to learn.

Kesler deserves support in his efforts. He would like to present demonstration projects to groups in order to teach them how to put these rules into practice. That's a good idea, but what a shame that Americans have to be taught such things.

And what a shame it would be if state lawmakers don't pass a joint resolution supporting these principles.

© 2009 Deseret News Publishing Company | All rights reserved

 P.S.  Kudos to John Kesler, and thanks to Christine Balderas for sharing.