Braver Angels change my view of the other side - Braver Angels

Braver Angels change my view of the other side

By Jean Aurilio, The Post Star

GLEN FALLS — I know that I’m a “BLUE.” And I now know the “REDS” are not my enemies. They are just regular people who have different opinions, values, wants and needs from me for different reasons. These Braver Angels sessions have helped me to be more tolerant. I don’t see the other side as my enemy anymore. I’ve learned to be more observant and to listen better to the views of people I disagree with.

My opinions and beliefs are not more important than anybody else’s. I also found that I won’t be able to convince anyone to come over to my side or to change their views. They have their own very good reasons for feeling the way they do. It is not my place to try to change them. I shouldn’t be trying to “save” them.

In our society today, it has become very difficult for people on both sides of the aisle to talk about their beliefs. We are afraid to voice our political opinions, because it could create a rift with family or friends. This has gotten way out of control.

Read the Full Article Here

More to explore

How a Christian conservative found his way to Braver Angels

As a young man, Daniel’s father emerged from a broken, dysfunctional home looking for direction and found it while attending a Billy Graham crusade in Chicago. There, he “walked forward”—committing himself to Jesus Christ and changing the trajectory of his family. Not long after, he married Daniel’s mom, a Christian convert whose grandparents sought refuge in America after escaping pogroms in Europe.

Read More »

Announcing Braver Angels Advisory Council

Twenty-three leaders who disagree on many things said yes to the same thing this month. They agreed to stand together, publicly, behind the idea that Americans can hold fast to their convictions while staying genuinely curious about the convictions of people on the other side. That’s it. That’s the commitment. For more than nine years, Braver Angels has reached people in every state in the union. The ones who’ve engaged have experienced something that surprises them every time: the relief of disagreeing without contempt, and the discovery that the person across the table is not who the feed said they were.

Read More »

Happy National Volunteer Week!

Braver Angels is powered by volunteers: everyday people who believe they have a role in bringing out the best in our country. And seeing our volunteers in action—giving their time and energy to bring together individuals who never dreamed they’d be in a room together—has buoyed me through all the political uncertainty.

Read More »

Leave a Comment

Braver Angels Support