Thanks for this, Tara. The line that stands out for me is “It’s impossible to feel curious, for example, while also feeling threatened.” I have been noticing more and more the rigidity of thought and opinion around the issue of vaccination and mandates. On the one side, one’s bodily autonomy is being threatened - nothing more basic or vitally important than that. On the other, I hear the repeated fear expressed that a hospital bed will not be available when they or a loved one needs one (because of the other side’s “selfishness”). There seems to be very little, if any, movement around these positions. They are entrenched. However, the latter position is sanctioned and actively promoted by government and health officials. Not once have I heard these parties say that freedom of bodily choice is a valid stance. Where does one go from there?
People become even more committed to and even “stuck” in their stance, their “right” views. How can we possibly solve social problems if we are not curious about each other’s experience? An opening of minds and hearts is desperately needed to move forward as a society. That has to be the revolution, as otherwise we will stay in the same polarized state.
Vax mandates are the most polarizing issue I have ever experienced in Canada. And as I was reading about Waterton NY, I was thinking: on the vaccine issue, we're legally prevented from (so to speak) getting together to talk it over - because of the very mandates that keep many spaces closed to one side, fear on one side that makes them not even want to sit down with the uninjected, etc.. I think that's why it feels so especially dangerous to me, compared to other contentious issues like, say, pipelines.
Pipelines? Surely you jest. This is BC, Canada 15 minutes. The Clean are now Dirty unless the appropriate head coverings are worn. Margaret Atwood's dream come true.
So true. It can be truly terrifying to be stigmatized, judged,and discriminated against in such an unrelenting way, literally rendered no legitimate voice or visibility, which is why we are coming together in solidarity around our rights as human beings and citizens.
For Tara: wanted to say that I am really enjoying your writing and interviews, and the mix of topics you cover is just right. I just now happily converted to paid sub.
A very engaging, well written and thought provoking article. Thank you. Who was it that said, “he who knows only their side of an issue knows nothing at all”? I love the notion of discussing to the outer edges of what we know so as to venture into our unknowns for enlightenment
"..... have come out of difficult times before — one of them took a civil war...."
The reason the Civil War finished was that one side (the North) destroyed the South ....so that resistance was no longer possible.
I think the Civil war is an inappropriate example of showing different sides "...came to a set of adjustments, both locally and nationally, to move in a different direction...."
From wikipedia
Sherman's March to the Sea .......The campaign began with Sherman's troops leaving the captured city of Atlanta on November 15 and ended with the capture of the port of Savannah on December 21. His forces followed a "scorched earth" policy, destroying military targets as well as industry, infrastructure, and civilian property, disrupting the Confederacy's economy and transportation networks.
The operation broke the back of the Confederacy and helped lead to its eventual surrender.
.....one of the major campaigns of the war, and is taught by some historians as an early example of modern warfare or total war.
Thanks for some excellent thinking about a critical topic. Years ago I ran across a team who were developing methods for hosting dialogue about contentious issues between opposing parties. Their work was called the Public Conversation Project - https://www.civicus.org/documents/toolkits/PGX_D_Public%20Conversations.pdf One of the key features of their work is to begin with the experiences that led to the positions people hold rather than the opinions that are a result of these experiences. When I held such a conversation about euthanasia I found that after people finished talking about their favourite dog as a child who had been out down with out their knowledge and an uncle suffering from advanced Lou Gehrig's disease and desperately asking for help ending his suffering people forgot which side of the argument they were on.
Dave, can you elaborate a bit on “not everyone is polarized.” I am genuinely curious to know what you mean by that. If we live in a highly contentious and polarized society, then how to some individuals or groups manage to escape being part of that polarization?
The royal we is a high school concept, so I'll look past your feigned confusion about it. All I can say is what I told my kids long ago: You are not the world.
Look at the link in my comment above. My Dog, The Clean have turned into hilarious social media memes; why are they burning so much energy polarizing if "we" are already polarized?
Thanks for this, Tara. The line that stands out for me is “It’s impossible to feel curious, for example, while also feeling threatened.” I have been noticing more and more the rigidity of thought and opinion around the issue of vaccination and mandates. On the one side, one’s bodily autonomy is being threatened - nothing more basic or vitally important than that. On the other, I hear the repeated fear expressed that a hospital bed will not be available when they or a loved one needs one (because of the other side’s “selfishness”). There seems to be very little, if any, movement around these positions. They are entrenched. However, the latter position is sanctioned and actively promoted by government and health officials. Not once have I heard these parties say that freedom of bodily choice is a valid stance. Where does one go from there?
People become even more committed to and even “stuck” in their stance, their “right” views. How can we possibly solve social problems if we are not curious about each other’s experience? An opening of minds and hearts is desperately needed to move forward as a society. That has to be the revolution, as otherwise we will stay in the same polarized state.
Vax mandates are the most polarizing issue I have ever experienced in Canada. And as I was reading about Waterton NY, I was thinking: on the vaccine issue, we're legally prevented from (so to speak) getting together to talk it over - because of the very mandates that keep many spaces closed to one side, fear on one side that makes them not even want to sit down with the uninjected, etc.. I think that's why it feels so especially dangerous to me, compared to other contentious issues like, say, pipelines.
Pipelines? Surely you jest. This is BC, Canada 15 minutes. The Clean are now Dirty unless the appropriate head coverings are worn. Margaret Atwood's dream come true.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t_Y10s1JujVYUgZzoR3xDvsbYfOENl6s/view?usp=sharing
So true. It can be truly terrifying to be stigmatized, judged,and discriminated against in such an unrelenting way, literally rendered no legitimate voice or visibility, which is why we are coming together in solidarity around our rights as human beings and citizens.
For Tara: wanted to say that I am really enjoying your writing and interviews, and the mix of topics you cover is just right. I just now happily converted to paid sub.
A very engaging, well written and thought provoking article. Thank you. Who was it that said, “he who knows only their side of an issue knows nothing at all”? I love the notion of discussing to the outer edges of what we know so as to venture into our unknowns for enlightenment
"..... have come out of difficult times before — one of them took a civil war...."
The reason the Civil War finished was that one side (the North) destroyed the South ....so that resistance was no longer possible.
I think the Civil war is an inappropriate example of showing different sides "...came to a set of adjustments, both locally and nationally, to move in a different direction...."
From wikipedia
Sherman's March to the Sea .......The campaign began with Sherman's troops leaving the captured city of Atlanta on November 15 and ended with the capture of the port of Savannah on December 21. His forces followed a "scorched earth" policy, destroying military targets as well as industry, infrastructure, and civilian property, disrupting the Confederacy's economy and transportation networks.
The operation broke the back of the Confederacy and helped lead to its eventual surrender.
.....one of the major campaigns of the war, and is taught by some historians as an early example of modern warfare or total war.
Thanks for some excellent thinking about a critical topic. Years ago I ran across a team who were developing methods for hosting dialogue about contentious issues between opposing parties. Their work was called the Public Conversation Project - https://www.civicus.org/documents/toolkits/PGX_D_Public%20Conversations.pdf One of the key features of their work is to begin with the experiences that led to the positions people hold rather than the opinions that are a result of these experiences. When I held such a conversation about euthanasia I found that after people finished talking about their favourite dog as a child who had been out down with out their knowledge and an uncle suffering from advanced Lou Gehrig's disease and desperately asking for help ending his suffering people forgot which side of the argument they were on.
Oy vey! The royal we. What is it with The Clean? Not everyone is polarized, Tara. As much as The Party wants it, profits from it, delights in it:
https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/survey-reveals-widening-gap-between-views-of-double-vaxxed-and-boosted-people
Dave, can you elaborate a bit on “not everyone is polarized.” I am genuinely curious to know what you mean by that. If we live in a highly contentious and polarized society, then how to some individuals or groups manage to escape being part of that polarization?
The royal we is a high school concept, so I'll look past your feigned confusion about it. All I can say is what I told my kids long ago: You are not the world.
Look at the link in my comment above. My Dog, The Clean have turned into hilarious social media memes; why are they burning so much energy polarizing if "we" are already polarized?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaTSQzYIR3U
Very thoughtful column Tara. Let's hope we're all still around to see some sort of societal reconciliation.