See v. Agree: Understanding Perspectives as We Bridge Our Current Divides
I arrived at the Airbnb covered from head to toe in dead gnats and dirt. I’d ridden along the route my bike app mapped out, which ended up including loose gravel, washboard roads, construction, and hills that would challenge a mountain goat — sometimes all at once.
My hosts looked positively bewildered. What on earth happened? How could I be such a mess?
To my mind, the question was: how could I not be such a mess? Hadn’t they seen the condition of the roads in their part of the state?
As I explained my journey, it became apparent I’d covered ground they’d never traveled — and that they assumed I’d taken a nearby bike path and then simply zig zagged over a few paved roads to reach their home. But I wasn’t familiar with that bike path (and apparently neither was my app).
The conversations we’re having in 2021 remind me of that biking adventure and the assumptions and miscommunication with my hosts upon my arrival. While we were all in the same physical place, they initially didn’t understand how I got there.
Across the country, we are seeing people divided, dismissive, and, in too many cases, desensitized to the humanity of people with whom we don’t agree. And lest I sound preachy, I’ll confess I’m not immune to this…
