Common Ground, Edition #1: The Liberal Party
One of the things that attracted me to run with the Greens is the freedom to cooperate across party lines. So, in my next three blog posts, I am going to do something different: rather than focusing on what I disagree with in each federal party, I want to showcase three things in the platforms of each of the three other national parties that I do agree with, and would work with them to accomplish.
First up: the governing Liberals.
Bridging the Divide: How to Have Difficult Conversations
My goal with this post is to – hopefully – help you communicate tough topics better – to share what I’ve learned about communicating difficult, at times life-threatening, subjects without having your listener or conversation partner immediately tune out or get defensive. We need all the help we can get to make a just transition a reality; preparing for challenging conversations can help us along the way.
Is Academic Freedom a Privilege for the Few or Vital for a Democratic Society?
In my 50s, I realize more complexity, while the world around me is becoming more polarized. I more clearly perceive the many factors that limit freedom of speech in every-day social interactions or educational settings, ranging from politeness over the concern for some particular vulnerabilities to the desire to avoid conflict. There are so many mechanisms in place that silence thoughts without allowing for a free and honest exploration. We thus limit the opportunities to find confirmation, to seek modification, or to allow for rejection of our hypothesis based on the merits of evidence and arguments.