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Several months ago, I joined a group of 13 other people from various backgrounds for a week at the Aspen Institute’s Executive Leadership Seminar, dialoguing about some of the greatest challenges facing our society today.
Michael D. Crain
Walter Paepcke founded the institute in 1950 as a place for enlightened engagement. Conversations were framed around a curated list of readings. These included the ancient texts of Aristotle and Plato, the exploration of the social contract proffered by Hobbes and Rousseau and the modern questions presented by King, Rodriguez and hooks.
Our group embarked on a nonpartisan inquiry into complex problems and strived toward the betterment of society.
Last week, I received my official “certificate of completion” from the Aspen Institute. As I reflected on the candid photos accompanying the certificate, I was reminded of just how profound the interaction was for me. I didn’t walk away from the experience with my fundamental beliefs altered, but I did depart with a new appreciation of differing perspectives and a newfound lens for my own beliefs.
The problems we face today are complicated and multi-faceted. We live in a world where issues are reduced to five-second sound bites and facts are loosely interpreted — normally to fit the author’s proffered narrative. A conscious effort is essential to discern the truth and acknowledge that contrasting opinions can hold equal validity.
Over the holidays, my wife asked me to read “Build the Life You Want” by Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey. The book discussed epistemic humility or the “recognition that someone else’s viewpoint might be useful or interesting, or at least doesn’t mean you can’t love the person.” We all say we appreciate the opinions of others, but an astonishing one in six Americans have severed relationships with friends and family because of politics. So, which is it? Authentically realizing the worth and value of others or being self-centered to the point we think ours is the only path forward?
With the party primaries and then the November general election just around the corner, we are entering another political season sure to be rife with half-truths and dubious sound bites. Practicing self-reflection and compassion will be key in navigating the fraught political waters of the next year. We must look to build bridges rather than tear down opponents. Policy and political disagreements are necessary, but their necessity should not drive us to destroy each other.
Mayor Mattie Parker is wise to be concerned about the tenor of the discourse as we enter this political season. I share her concern and her goal of ensuring partisanship doesn't damage our ability to get things done for the residents of Fort Worth.
I was recently reminded of President George W. Bush’s first inaugural address when he said, “I ask you to be citizens: citizens, not spectators; citizens, not subjects; responsible citizens, building communities of service and a nation of character. Americans are generous and strong and decent, not because we believe in ourselves, but because we hold beliefs beyond ourselves.”
We must make every effort in every facet to guard our democracy, which means listening and tolerating the opinions of others. That also means working together to identify optimal solutions to create win-win alternatives, where everyone can truly be a participant in the outcome. Only with this perspective can we address the myriad challenges ahead of us and work to achieve the goals shared by our common humanity. It is time to remind ourselves what being an American, Texan, and Fort Worthian means.
To me, it means pursuing the values of freedom, opportunity, accountability and compassion and understanding when the ideals of others might differ from our own (and that’s OK).
Michael Crain is a Fort Worth City Councilmember representing District 3.