“A Case for Compassion” — those words heading an April 26 Gazette article, caught my eye. Familiar with the speaker at Amherst College who was making the case for compassion, longtime Dalai Lama translator Geshe Thupten Jinpa, I was eager to read of his talk.
Another, more important reason, drew me, too. As a member of Braver Angels since 2020, I knew that his message would resonate deeply with me. Braver Angels is a non-partisan, non-profit formed in 2016 to work to bridge our toxic political divide. It knows that this work to stop our cold civil war must include recognizing the humanity of those who hold different political beliefs from ourselves. Demonizing them as “the other” gets us nowhere.
As Jinpa pointed out, “A broader type of perspective is helpful, because this current level of energy — of outrage, anger… is not sustainable… and is not a strategy that works in a sustained way.” Stoking our fear and anger keeps us divided and leaves us in no shape to protect our already beleaguered democracy.
Jinpa touched on another hallmark of Braver Angels’ work: the need to “[teach] skills that lead to nurturing relationships.” Braver Angels does this through our workshops teaching better communication skills with the emphasis on listening not to persuade but to understand.
With two workshops under our belts, “Skills for Disagreeing Better” and “Depolarizing Within,” in May we tackle “Families and Politics.” As Bill Doherty, a founder of Braver Angels and family and marriage therapist, has said, while there are legitimate reasons for one to disengage with family members, politics should not be one of them.
We agree and hope that if you have seen family breakdown or friendships ended over politics, you will sign up to attend the “Family and Politics Workshop” Saturday, May 16, 3 to 5:30 p.m. at the Easthampton Library Annex. It is free but you must preregister at this link: https://tinyurl.com/BAWM-0516.
To end our cold civil war tearing us apart requires us all to step up. Please join Braver Angels in this essential work.
Linda M. Clark
Easthampton