John Renesch writes:
We are building silos of ideologies, isolating ourselves into factions, and preaching to our choirs about the faults and defects of 鈥渢he other.鈥� Each silo is suffering from 鈥済roupthink鈥� 鈥� reinforcing its own dogma and avoiding any feedback that disagrees with the party line. At its worst, it is ideological bigotry.
He continues:
This subtle form of bigotry is being promoted by extremists who compete for attention. Unless it鈥檚 held in check, it could tear our nation鈥檚 social fabric. We鈥檝e seen that happen in other countries, where ugly rhetoric eventually turns to violence.
But there鈥檚 hope, Renesch says: 鈥淸E]ach of us can make a difference in our circles of influence with a simple yet profound rule for everyday communication: stop opposing what we don鈥檛 like, and start proposing what we would like.鈥�
He points out that 鈥渂oth history and common sense confirm that the key is to make sure debates are about ideas, not people.鈥� And he reminds readers that 鈥渃ruel words and dismissive sarcasm can damage our ties with rivals 鈥� and perhaps even friends and family.鈥�
Renesch concludes:
Stop listening to it; stop repeating it; stop encouraging this pattern of divisiveness. Instead of spouting our opinions and preaching to those in our silo, let鈥檚 reach out to those who have different viewpoints. Nothing will change unless we do.
John Renesch is a businessman-turned-futurist based in San Francisco, an author of several books, and an international speaker. His website is .
