What I appreciate about your writing most, Garrett, is the way you always ask us to connect with a person's full humanity. It's clear that when we have a short-term agenda (get this stranger to vote for x person in y election cycle), the superficial questions feel like shortcuts. But they do movement building such a disservice. Actually getting to know each other as humans and deeply listening to our individual and collective needs is what we need.
It's been hard to get into the election cycle this go because it all feels so damn hollow and not enough, but I find reading your nuance and compassion to be a breath of fresh air in it all.
First off thank you. And also, your articulation of how this election cycle has left you feeling really touched on something that I think a lot of people are feeling. If I were diagnose a vibe right now (and who doesn't love doing that?) it feels like this will be a massively high turnout election that is still somehow marked by an undercurrent of exhaustion
Yea I think that’s a huge part of it, the exhaustion. I think it’s also hard to see a party carry forward some progressive values but still not connect the dots of the progressive movement with Palestinian liberation movement, and how that leaves those of us who’ve been deep in witnessing that feeling cynical or weary to jump on the otherwise fun flashy hopeful bandwagon with any real excitement. This is the first election cycle in a long time that’s felt more like a chore than an opportunity to gather and mobilize and I think Palestine is a huge part of it, at least for me. Voting feels more like having to take obligatory medicine this go, rather than a right I get to exercise and rally people around.
"You can probably guess what I love about this question based on what I hated most about the other questions. First, it’s collective— it’s asking people to consider not just their experience but that of their neighbors." Yes!! Gosh, I love these questions.
In writing studies and journalism we often call the assumptions that questions make "warrants." All of the "warrants" of your bad questions *assume the person already agrees that what matters most is themselves, and in most cases their finances.
I think if we asked more people what their community needs, more people would be like: all the kids in this neighborhood need coats and enough food. Safe schools. We all need to be more healthy. Wow, what a different convo we would be having (and reporting) if we posed questions that way.
Casper tur Kuile (one of my favorite modern thinkers) sent a newsletter today about the way the Catholic church defined miracles in the 16th century. These lines have been stuck in my head since I read them:
“This ‘reorganization of magic’ meant that miracles were only deemed true if they knit together believers of different kinship groups or across social status. In an age where literally millions of people had been killed in the Wars of Religion (including nearly a third of the entire German population!), a miracle was an event that healed divides.”
By this definition, the questions you pose here have the potential to be miraculous. ❤️
My least favorite question: Do you think things in your country/state/town are going in the right direction or the wrong direction? I swear this comes up in every poll I have ever responded to. It's complicated!!! I would love to be asked any open-ended question! (I don't live in a swing state, but there is a lot of polling on propositions here in California.)
I also sent her the link to the 10/17 event. She was part of the founding of a Quaker elementary and middle school locally (Friends Community School), which is remarkably racially diverse for a Quaker school. So, that particular event might be perfect for her.
Appreciative inquiry ftw! I love questions like, “What do you love about living in your community? What is your community doing well? What do you want to see improved?”
Thank you for this! I feel both bleak and hopeful when an essay full of I-should-know-this-already hits me profoundly. It’s so easy to accept so little in our political imagination.
After a lifetime of watching my political imagination wither and then trying to grow it again, I've gotten so interested in this question of all the death by a thousand cuts that made it so that it atrophied. It's helped to give myself grace!
What I appreciate about your writing most, Garrett, is the way you always ask us to connect with a person's full humanity. It's clear that when we have a short-term agenda (get this stranger to vote for x person in y election cycle), the superficial questions feel like shortcuts. But they do movement building such a disservice. Actually getting to know each other as humans and deeply listening to our individual and collective needs is what we need.
It's been hard to get into the election cycle this go because it all feels so damn hollow and not enough, but I find reading your nuance and compassion to be a breath of fresh air in it all.
First off thank you. And also, your articulation of how this election cycle has left you feeling really touched on something that I think a lot of people are feeling. If I were diagnose a vibe right now (and who doesn't love doing that?) it feels like this will be a massively high turnout election that is still somehow marked by an undercurrent of exhaustion
Yea I think that’s a huge part of it, the exhaustion. I think it’s also hard to see a party carry forward some progressive values but still not connect the dots of the progressive movement with Palestinian liberation movement, and how that leaves those of us who’ve been deep in witnessing that feeling cynical or weary to jump on the otherwise fun flashy hopeful bandwagon with any real excitement. This is the first election cycle in a long time that’s felt more like a chore than an opportunity to gather and mobilize and I think Palestine is a huge part of it, at least for me. Voting feels more like having to take obligatory medicine this go, rather than a right I get to exercise and rally people around.
"You can probably guess what I love about this question based on what I hated most about the other questions. First, it’s collective— it’s asking people to consider not just their experience but that of their neighbors." Yes!! Gosh, I love these questions.
In writing studies and journalism we often call the assumptions that questions make "warrants." All of the "warrants" of your bad questions *assume the person already agrees that what matters most is themselves, and in most cases their finances.
I think if we asked more people what their community needs, more people would be like: all the kids in this neighborhood need coats and enough food. Safe schools. We all need to be more healthy. Wow, what a different convo we would be having (and reporting) if we posed questions that way.
Oh that's so well put (and thank you for introducing me to that concept of "warrants!")
Casper tur Kuile (one of my favorite modern thinkers) sent a newsletter today about the way the Catholic church defined miracles in the 16th century. These lines have been stuck in my head since I read them:
“This ‘reorganization of magic’ meant that miracles were only deemed true if they knit together believers of different kinship groups or across social status. In an age where literally millions of people had been killed in the Wars of Religion (including nearly a third of the entire German population!), a miracle was an event that healed divides.”
By this definition, the questions you pose here have the potential to be miraculous. ❤️
Highly recommend the full newsletter!
https://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=da743fc91e64eee671a17d3f4&id=c1631b5c8b
Love Casper but hadn't seen that essay! Holy cow!! Just think of all the miracles in our midst!
My least favorite question: Do you think things in your country/state/town are going in the right direction or the wrong direction? I swear this comes up in every poll I have ever responded to. It's complicated!!! I would love to be asked any open-ended question! (I don't live in a swing state, but there is a lot of polling on propositions here in California.)
CAN NOT AGREE MORE! The right direction/wrong direction question is soooooo reductive, and you're right, it's wildly popular.
I'm sorry I will miss the FMW event on 10/20, though I'll let my mom know about it. I think she'd really enjoy it. If you meet her, let me know!
It'd be great to meet her! I'm really excited to be at FMW!
I also sent her the link to the 10/17 event. She was part of the founding of a Quaker elementary and middle school locally (Friends Community School), which is remarkably racially diverse for a Quaker school. So, that particular event might be perfect for her.
Appreciative inquiry ftw! I love questions like, “What do you love about living in your community? What is your community doing well? What do you want to see improved?”
Love those questions
Thank you for this! I feel both bleak and hopeful when an essay full of I-should-know-this-already hits me profoundly. It’s so easy to accept so little in our political imagination.
After a lifetime of watching my political imagination wither and then trying to grow it again, I've gotten so interested in this question of all the death by a thousand cuts that made it so that it atrophied. It's helped to give myself grace!
I love this. Think you for much for this.
Thanks Jen!