By Tamara Tabel
Video & Photography by JP Leong, Afrochine
At first, you may think that David French and Eboo Patel have little in common — maybe even adversaries in this era of negative partisanship. Patel is Ismaili Muslim American, a former faith advisor for the Obama administration, and Founder and President of Interfaith Youth Core. French is evangelical Christian, conservative political columnist for TIME, Senior Editor of The Dispatch, and a veteran of the Iraq War.
Yet the night they engaged in a Courageous Conversation at Barrington’s White House, they were nothing less than engaging and respectful, modeling genuine curiosity, humility and self-deprecating humor for an audience of over a hundred guests, both in-person and virtual.
While they could not agree on college football, they could on the power of pluralism, the danger of cable news television, and the importance of civic education and duty.
To help counter the growing political and ideological divides in this country, French and Patel recommended some simple practices we can embrace to be the change we wish to see:
Educate yourself on both sides of a controversial topic — find and follow the best intellectual voices; read the proponent first, and then the opposing view;
Protect each other’s civil liberties — an affront to one is an affront to all;
Become an “in-group dissenter”— one of the minority in a group willing to speak up to acknowledge another group’s beliefs as valid;
Recognize that we are already working with people with whom we disagree — think of doctors, fire fighters, pilots, front line workers showing that the goal of saving lives or working for the greater good can outweigh political beliefs in everyday life; and
Find your “Leo” — a person with whom you disagree on political issues, but someone with whom you can share mutual respect and friendship. (French grew to respect and cherish his roommate Leo while they both served in Iraq, despite the fact they were politically opposed.)
Patel and French reminded guests that we are a changing America, and that building a racially, religiously and politically diverse democracy is not easy, but worthy. Not only are racial demographics shifting, so are religious identities. The United States will no longer be a majority white Judeo-Christian nation — which is not an opinion, but a fact “just as true as the sky is blue,” underscored French. Our founders were vehement about protecting religious freedom — one of the core reasons many fled to this continent.
Patel described America’s democracy as less of a melting pot and more of a potluck dinner where each contributes their own offerings to share.
“People of goodwill must be ambassadors within each group. We must all believe that an affront to one person’s liberty is an affront to us all. In this world’s oldest democracy, we must reach beyond just what we like or believe to work toward the greater good.”
There are historic precedents for this. In the same way we see little remnant of the former animosity between Catholics and Protestants, Patel believes we can become accepting of all peoples and religions.
French believes we are built for this — not only to survive pluralism, but to thrive. Our success depends upon voluntarily relinquishing and sharing power.
“We need to help those people who are in jeopardy — physically or psychologically,” said French. As William Carlos Williams wrote in his poem, The Red Wheelbarrow — “so much depends on it.”
“Everyone shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree — and there shall be none to make him afraid.” -George Washington (Micah 4:4)
REFLECTION & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Reflecting on Eboo & David's conversation, what surprised you? What challenged you?
Take a moment to quietly reflect: When was a time you were part of enabling division?
What are ways you can heal division in your sphere of influence?
SEEING NO STRANGER:
The phrase “see no stranger” is the message of Guru Nanak, the first teacher of the Sikh faith. It is inspired by Ik Onkar, or oneness. Says Valarie Kaur, founder of The Revolutionary Love Project: “It inspires us to look upon the face of anyone and say: ‘You are a part of me I do not yet know.’” To see Kaur’s beautiful session of Courageous Conversations, watch here.
SUGGESTED READING:
Federalist Papers, No. 10
JAMES MADISON
Divided We Fall: America’s Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation
by David French
Out of Many Faiths: Religious Diversity & The American Promise
by Eboo Patel
Sacred Ground: Pluralism, Prejudice, and the Promise of America
by Eboo Patel
See No Stranger: A Memoir And Manifesto of Revolutionary Love
by Valarie Kaur
COURAGEOUS COMMUNITY
The Courageous Conversations series gathers Second Wednesdays 7-9pm at Barrington’s White House. Hosted by Rev. Dr. Zina Jacque and Jessica Green and presented by Urban Consulate. Made possible thanks to generous support from Barrington Area Community Foundation, BMO Wealth Management, Jessica & Dominic Green, Kim Duchossois, Tyler & Danielle Lenczuk, Cobey & Erich Struckmeyer, Young Chung, Susan & Rich Padula, Carol & David Nelson, Dennis Barsema, Julie Kanak & Mike Rigali — and ticket purchasers like you. Thank you!