On the Vine: How political foes can also be friends
.png "Princeton University professors Cornel West and Robert George have different political and social views. They debate often in search of the truth, yet have maintained a 20-year friendship. They co-authored “Truth Matters: A Dialogue on Fruitful Disagreement in an Age of Division.”")
In case you missed it, let me tell you about an event I attended recently with Black philosopher, theologian, social critic, and former Independent presidential candidate Cornel West going head-to-head with conservative legal scholar Robert George.
In this politically polarized world we live in today, I was sure this debate of sorts, moderated by award-winning journalist and war correspondent Jane Ferguson, would be fun to watch. It was hosted by the American Public Square, a nonprofit focused on civil discourse.
Plus, it was held at the National World War I Museum, and I take advantage of every opportunity I get to visit that fascinating space. It’s the only museum in America dedicated to WWI.
Museums like this, which offer not only historic artifacts but personal stories — the good and the bad — are essential, lest we forget that 116,516 Americans died in the First World War, 53,402 on the battlefield, and more than 63,000 from accidents and disease many from the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic.
History reminds us how much our nation has grown and is supposed to protect us from sliding backward.
The discourse between West and George was billed this way, in part: “Based on the political causes they’ve championed as public intellectuals, one might expect Cornel West and Robert George to bitterly dislike one another.” And that would fit right in with the kind of back and forth we hear from our state and national politicians.
But the event wasn’t like that at all. Rather, it was a conversation between two scholars, with different political viewpoints — West, a liberal, and George, a white conservative.
The two have been good friends for 20 years. Both are professors at Princeton University, and according to what they said during Friday night’s event, they take pleasure in deep debates with one another in search of “the truth.”
Hence, their current book, titled “Truth Matters: A Dialogue on Fruitful Disagreement in an Age of Division.”
They certainly agreed that to have civil discourse among people with different political or social thought and opinion, it first must be clear that both parties are seeking the truth and are prepared to listen.
West, who famously said “Justice is what love looks like in public,” argued last Friday, basically, that today many people are comfortable in silos of ignorance (my words, not his) with no desire to find truth and no thought that what they think they know may not be correct.
Debate is good, both men said, but never lose sight of humanity in your opponent.
My takeaway? If we completely stop talking to one another with purpose, civility, empathy, compassion, and the intent of getting closer to the truth, we risk forever being a divided nation.
Off The Vine
Below are stories about culture and identity from communities in the Kansas City metro area. Go here to find more stories on culture and identity from Star reporter J.M. Banks.
- Pyet DeSpain, a Kansas City native and PBS food show host, is a member of the Potawatomi Nation and has Mexican roots. In this Star report, in a Q&A format, she talks about how culture shaped her Indigenous recipes and community-focused cooking.
- Robert Norris who, with his wife Shelly, founded Corey’s Network, a nonprofit that assists families of homicide victims, died earlier this month at 73. Read about how he lived his life helping others heal.
Vine Picks
- African drumming and dance is having a resurgence in Kansas City thanks to two master drummers teaching the art and the history to younger audiences. Reporter J.M. Banks writes about the rhythms and the people behind them.
- Kansas City’s streetcar expansion rolled for the public on Friday. Now the question is how it will impact businesses along the route. Star reporter Jenna Thompson talked with business owners to find out.
- Chris and Angie Long, the prime owners of the KC Current and CPKC Stadium, are banking $1 billion on an ambitious, 10-year mixed-use development. Star reporter Eric Adler takes a close look at the couple’s vision for the KC riverfront.
- The Independence Public Schools District was one of the early districts in Missouri to switch to a four-day school week. Should that practice continue? The Star Editorial Board has this commentary on the issue.
Your voice matters to us. What local issues do you want to hear discussed in On The Vine?
Let me, Mará Rose Williams, The Star’s assistant managing editor for race and equity, know directly at mdwilliams@kcstar.com.
Thank you for reading.
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