This past weekend, we were chilled by a horrific act. It was the ultimate manifestation of political hatred. We must have room to disagree on our politics, and political violence is the greatest threat to constructive disagreement.
The greatest antidote to fear and violence is dialogue and engagement. On June 27, in a show of how our politics actually could be better, hundreds of voters from across the ideological spectrum watched the first presidential debate together in the same room, side by side, on the shores of Lake Michigan in Kenosha, Wis. They had gathered at Carthage College for the 2024 Braver Angels National Convention.
Seven members of our East Central Illinois Braver Angels Alliance joined with more than 20 other Illinoisans as delegates to the convention. Some had attended last year’s convention in Gettysburg, Pa., and for others, it was their first time.
Many found the bipartisan debate watch party to be extremely heartening. Michael Trout, the “blue” co-chair of our local alliance, was “deeply impressed with the good manners” shown by participants from both sides of the aisle during and after the debate. The “red” co-chair, Rich Montgomery, described it as “a moving and unifying experience,” with the delegates who spoke after the debate “placing their concern for our country ahead of partisan bickering.
” The next few days were spent with panel discussions, debates, poster presentations, workshops, strategy sessions, networking and meanin.