The below commentary, "Listen First, Vote Second," was written by LFP President Pearce Godwin during the 2014 midterm elections focusing on the most salient case of our failure to listen to those with whom we disagree, politics. It accompanied LFP’s grassroots and social media effort featuring campaign signs across the southeast. This award-winning piece was printed in major newspapers across the United States from the Miami Herald to the Oklahoman.
Is there
any way to improve the tone of our national discourse, to alleviate the rancor
that's gripping our politics and society? Voters believe the answer is simple:
Listen first.
A recent
poll of North Carolina voters by Listen First Project found that 57 percent
believe that "if people with different viewpoints listened to and
considered the other side first" it would make a major or huge impact on
our politics and society. Only 6 percent believe it would have "no
impact" on our culture. In the September NBC News/Wall Street Journal
national poll, voters were asked what one message they would like to send to
politicians with their vote this year. The top open-ended response was
"bipartisanship, work together, compromise."
It sounds
so easy, and clearly the interest in positive change exists, but it can be a
steep challenge for most of us. But we don't have a choice. If we hope for a
healthy, prosperous nation, we cannot continue to demagogue our neighbors
because they see the world differently, suggesting that not only their opinions
but they themselves are somehow less. That's not who we aspire to be as an American
people, as a "city on a hill" for the world to see.
Listen
First Project has launched the Listen First, Vote Second campaign around this
midterm election season. We have yard signs across the state mixed in with the
ubiquitous red and blue candidate signs that we're all used to seeing this time
of year. The #ListenFirstVoteSecond message is spreading on social media as
well. We're promoting this message with the belief that the greatest societal
change begins with the people, at the grassroots level. Our political leaders
take cues from us.
Every
election season, and most every day in the modern political and technological
climate, we're reminded of the issues that divide us. And that's OK. The United
States is made better by passionate and vigorous debate on issues that shape
our nation. We will never and should never all agree on everything, but that
doesn't mean the status quo can't change. We can move beyond slander and seek
common ground, with a new respect and appreciation for the other side.
While
politics, especially during election season, provides the starkest example of
our failure to listen to one another, it's far from the only arena in which we
face this challenge. Our failure to listen is affecting our relationships and
productivity at every level, from the kitchen table and classroom all the way
to Congress and the United Nations.
We're all
culpable, and we're all responsible for change. It starts with me. It starts
with you. Let's make a new commitment to fully listen to and consider another
person's views before sharing our own, prioritize respect and understanding in
conversation and encourage others to do the same.
This
election year Listen First, Vote Second.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Listen First, Vote Second" has appeared in the newspapers listed below among others.
Raleigh News & Observer: In North Carolina, let's try listening first, then voting"Listen First, Vote Second" has appeared in the newspapers listed below among others.
Miami Herald: Seek common ground this election season
The State: Key to better politics: Listen first, vote second
Oklahoman: One way to improve national discourse: listen
Myrtle Beach Sun Times: Listen First, Vote Second
Daily Mail: People should listen first, vote second
Duke University Chronicle: Listen first, vote second
Fayetteville Observer: Take the time to listen
Salisbury Post: Listen first, vote second
Alexandria News: Listen first, vote second
