John Inazu isn’t expecting to get everyone to agree on the major issues of the day.
The Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University in St. Louis knows that’s not possible, nor even desirable.
But in his book “Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to Navigating Differences With Empathy and Respect,” Inazu does try to show ways in which we can differ without becoming divided.
“I think it starts with the importance of seeing the human being across from you as a person and not a problem,” said Inazu, who will be the featured speaker at the 18th annual McCarthy Lecture, sponsored by the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Policy and Civic Engagement and scheduled for 7 p.m. Sept. 19 in the Stephen B. Humphrey Theater at Saint John’s University.
The lecture is free and open to the public. A pre-event reception is also open to the public, but registration is required. That event begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Founders Room, Quad 170, at SJU. Those interested in attending are asked to complete a short form.
“It’s very hard if you go through life thinking people who believe differently than you do are all evil,” Inazu continued. “If you think someone is wrong, you can still sit down next to them and engage in conversation. But if you think someone is evil, it’s hard to get anything done together.”
Inazu’s book – which draws on his experience teaching – utilizes a narrative flow that follows the course of an academic year, addressing a question for each month.
He said college settings are ideal laboratories to put such ideas into action.
“Because really, if we can’t figure out how to do this here, then where else in society will we be able to? Where else do we have this luxury of coming together with all sorts of people from all sorts of backgrounds with all sorts of interests, and having the ability to engage in difficult conversations over these hard issues?”
Inazu’s message of disagreeing without demonizing will be echoed in the performance scheduled to follow his talk by Tane Danger and the Theater of Public Policy, a show produced by the Twin Cities-based theater and events company Danger Boat Productions.
The group is a unique, civics-minded comedy troupe that has hosted more than 500 live and online shows across the U.S. since 2011.
Danger and company facilitate discussion of a particular issue and idea, allowing opposing viewpoints to be expressed. They then turn that discussion into unscripted improvisational comedy.
“We don’t come at this from the idea that everybody is going to agree when they leave,” Danger said. “But we fundamentally believe that if you can laugh with another person, you can see the humanity in them. And that allows you to build a connection, even if you hold different views.”
For proof of that formula, Danger points to a performance his group put on several years ago in which Gov. Tim Walz (now the Democratic nominee for U.S. vice president) and U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer (now the majority whip for the Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives) both took part.
“They were sitting next to each other and both laughing hysterically,” Danger recalls. “Here were two people, from different points of view and different parties, not trying to tear each other down, but sharing a human moment with one another.
“That’s something we need more of.”
The theme of this year’s McCarthy Lecture dovetails perfectly with “Disagreeing Better,” an initiative launching this fall at both Saint John’s and the College of Saint Benedict that’s designed to help reduce some of the partisan rancor that only increases during an election year. The official launch week for the effort is scheduled for the week of Sept. 16.
“It’s about figuring out how we can build better communication channels with the people we live with, work with, go to church with and play sports against,” McCarthy Center director Matt Lindstrom said.
“These strategies aren’t just applicable in the political world, but in our office spaces, neighborhoods and daily lives.”