Letter to the Editor: Animosity today can be effectively addressed

The Founders who wrote our Constitution recognized, in their Federalist Papers explaining the document and the reasoning and compromises establishing it, that societal factions have existed since the start of mankind and the development of societies.

We each have different life experiences, different contexts within which these occur, different demographics, and a variety of additional factors that all contribute to our priorities and positions on issues. These vary within our local community as well as expanded areas such as our county, our state and our country – also between countries in the entire world. Having an understanding of the facts involved in defining each of these situations, and how these are being processed to determine position on issues, is very important for effective communications, negotiations on policies, and relationships that are not negative. We need to see others as people, just as we each are, and treat others as we want to be treated. This does not mean agreeing on everything. History has shown this is not going to happen. Simply repeating a falsehood and/or prejudice adds to the problem rather than addressing it effectively.

Having the ability to research actual facts (not relying on some undocumented social media post or podcast) provides supported perspectives and positions as a good starting point. Using higher-level thinking and problem-solving skills to process this information can help in better understanding the individual reasoning. Stemming from this can be an effectively negotiated compromise on issues that need to be addressed – without ignoring the needs of some factions (thus denigrating them in their eyes and creating more animosity).

We are each individuals whose lives are based on multiple factors that influence our priorities and positions. Our Founders said we have a right to be heard and our positions considered.

Sue Atkinson

Baxter