WhoDoWeWantToBe?

8 WHO DO WE WANT TO BE?

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Between confirmation bias (your perspective on what you see, hear and might repeat), biased sources of misinformation and creative marketing, it’s not easy these days to determine what’s real or important. Some tips that have emerged from the Four Freedoms and Beyond project: n BE AWARE of what sounds too good or “out there” to be true.

n TAKE CARE when you rely on the same sources for “news,” political arguments, rumors, or entertainment. n WHEN IN DOUBT, CHECK IT OUT!

Civics education and media literacy can help. And fact-checking can make a difference between your “truth,” someone else’s beliefs and hucksters’. Look for proof.

Doing the Work and Bridging the Gap

To bridge differences, you usually need to start by accepting that you don’t have all the answers or a

monopoly on the truth. Bridging is not about persuasion or coercion…It’s about understanding. It involves inner work, not just action. It’s sometimes about small shifts. One of the most comprehensive resources to do this is The Bridging Differences Playbook from the Greater Good Science Center. Here is a short list of organizations who are doing this work well: THE ILLINOIS CIVIC HUB: People of all ages —citizens and noncitizens, voters and non-voters alike, can benefit. The Hub has lesson plans, toolkits, webinars and inperson conferences. It offers proven practices, model programs, and a wide range of resources for non-school groups and schools. BRAVER ANGELS: A citizen’s alliance uniting “to depolarize America.” Workshops, debates, 1 to 1 conversations, library, book and film clubs, podcasts and more. braverangels.org STORY CORPS’ ONE SMALL STEP: Pairs people who don’t agree for one-on-one conversations to spark meaningful listening and to remind people of the humanity of all of us, and that it’s hard to hate up close.

For a more complete list visit fourfreedomsandbeyond.com

Protecting democracy, trust and the good life for everyone is not that simple. It takes work. Questions? Comments? Ideas? Stay in touch at info@fourfreedomsandbeyond.com Not finished yet ...

Did you know?

How many hours per day does the average American spend listening, watching, reading, or consuming mass media? How about you?