Compared to the chaotic images of violence a mere two weeks ago, the calm procedural nature of Joe Biden’s inauguration is, for many, a relieving sight. For others, today might be disappointing – but that is how our democracy works; your preferred candidate does not win every time. The way we build our social networks often keeps us within an echo chamber, where we often talk to others who agree with a similar worldview and tune out the dissonant voices for one reason or another – often out of convenience. But today, more than ever, I urge you to think about difficult conversations. Democracies require dialogue to thrive.
At the inauguration today, inspiration flowed through Amanda Gorman’s poetic democratic vision and the possibility for our future together. President Joe Biden narrated a similar trajectory in his inaugural address – moving forward to a time where “we can see each other not as adversaries, but as neighbors.” Transforming the way we see those with who we disagree is one thing; repairing the fractured nature of our relationships with our fellow citizens is another.
No matter how comforting the ceremonial transition might feel for some, we cannot ignore the tensions between those who believe that democracy is still healthily functioning in the United States and those who do not agree. There are still those who question the results of the election and who have interpreted the shutdown of former President Trump’s social media accounts as corporate domination and abuse of the First Amendment. These viewpoints and associations are not a far-off threat; rather, many Americans today proudly express their support for these beliefs.
My students have encouraged me to remind myself – and remind others – that it is important not to avoid difficult discussions with those we love, especially as we move forward with a new administration that will face different challenges while navigating through ones that have remained with us for generations. These issues are not branded “Democrat” nor “Republican.” They are for all of us to work on together.
My students live the same complex social and political lives as most Americans today. I learned about this firsthand during discussions associated with a two-week January-term course I co-taught at The University of Virginia earlier this month entitled “Democracy in Danger.” The cadre of co-instructors could never have envisioned how relevant the title of the course would be – especially teaching one of our courses on January 6, 2021. Our interactions with invited lecturers and students revealed the fractured nature of what the political and social landscape looks and sounds like at an individualized level across the country – where loved ones quickly turn into adversaries on political and social issues.
Some students mentioned that they could no longer have polite conversations with their closest family members. Others noted their experiences with different gradations of political belief – that moderate Republicans were shunned by followers of QAnon, and that other even more extreme groups such as The Proud Boys view all democratically-elected figures with disdain. President Trump has even been added to the list of those to mock by The Proud Boys in the hours following the inauguration of our 46th President.
Conservative students in the “Democracy in Danger” course mentioned that they strongly identified with Mike Pence in the days leading up to the inauguration – distancing themselves from those whose radicalized opinions had trained them to see facts as fertile ground for conspiratorial reinterpretation. Others were disappointed by President Trump’s reaction to the events at the Capitol. Democrats and Independents echoed the concern of their Republican counterparts, recognizing that those who had once seen themselves as being at odds with one another were in fact now at odds with radicalized political and social organizations that exist outside the framework of the federal government, and whose main goal is to dismantle and destabilize the institutions of our democracy.
“What do you think we can do about this?” I asked. Students workshopped ideas in breakout rooms on Zoom, returning with a simple answer – “we need to talk.”
Extreme ideologies are born out of a desire for significance. Psychological researchers have coined the term “significance quest theory” – that certain behaviors such as violence or radicalization stem from the societal need for acceptance and significance. The desire for a collective duty or a quest is the same motivator that fuels positive activities such as community volunteering, but can often lead astray those seeking simple answers to complex problems.
It is tempting to categorize those we do not agree with as irredeemable, especially with the tenuous nature of our polarized political and social landscape. However, it is important to realize that the best way to guarantee our democracy survives well beyond the present day is to have difficult conversations with those we know and love. Though official sources such as the “mainstream media” have lost credibility in the eyes of some, appealing to basic human needs can do more for these individuals than any other initiative. Talk to those you know and love and share your own opinions in turn, not in the hopes of re-educating, but to dialogue. Proselytizing is not democratic; sharing is. And sharing leads to reflectiveness, thought, and openness.
Though we are all not equipped to process and respond positively to challenging dialogues – especially with those we know well – trying to initiate is an excellent place to start. Alienating those with alternative or differing views perpetuates extremism and allows those who hold such extreme views to feel a false sense of ‘othering.’ This fuels the flames of political or social extremism and leads people who adhere to these ideologies down dangerous paths. Feeling isolated fosters us versus them mentalities, which transform the socially or politically alienated person into seeing oneself as an enlightened voice, challenging the status quo that suppresses their lived experiences – which sometimes results in the violence we have recently seen, and that I saw firsthand here in Charlottesville in 2017.
I end with a quote by Alexis de Tocqueville: “Nothing is more wonderful than the art of being free, but nothing is harder to learn how to use than freedom.” Let’s learn through dialogue – together.
Claire-Marie Brisson
20 January 2021
la rêveuse solitaire 