- Patience and tolerance are critical. Listen hard and ask questions.
- Many people have/will get hurt by national policies, budget cuts, and layoffs
- Some of our neighbors may feel vulnerable
- Some of our neighbors will get hurt who did not expect that
- Topics that resonate with our neighbors’ own concerns:
- Ukraine and Russia,
- Jan. 6th pardons as a law and order issue,
- Musk is robbing you for tax cuts for the rich,
- Budget cuts and impacts on our schools and our neighbors,
- Tariffs’ impact especially on farm commodities and long-term effects on markets
- Remember that people are getting hurt who didn’t expect to
- Advice from people who teach about hard issues:
- Make the emotional connection first:
- “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou was right!
- Tell your own story about how the issue has affected you
- Admit making a mistake
- Express your compassion for your neighbor’s situation
- Identify common values
- Listen and ask questions
- Identify and evaluate sources of information collaboratively
- Make the emotional connection first:
