Healthy disagreement, not hate

Disagreement is inevitable. We see things differently. Healthy disagreement helps expose bad ideas, fosters collaboration and enhances decision-making. It’s not about “winning” or character attacks.

Disagreement is also a critically important component of a well-functioning democracy. We have the freedom to disagree, to debate, to challenge, and to protest. And we have laws, courts, and elections to help us settle disputes peacefully.

Today, however, disagreement has rapidly deteriorated into hatred. It’s pretty obvious when we hate someone. We blame them, call them names, applaud attempts to sabotage their efforts, take pleasure in their misfortune, assume that their intentions are bad, continuously revisit their past wrongs, and use “moral” language to excuse our own behavior. We blind ourselves to the possibility that opposing perspectives may have at least some merit.

When disagreements surface — consider immigration as an example — we may feel compelled to either fully agree and “pile-on,” or totally disengage, which deepens the divide our nation is currently experiencing. Let’s break this either-or cycle. Let’s listen and seek to understand each other’s views. It’s our responsibility to choose healthy disagreement over hate.

Reed Gregory

Round Lake Beach