Civil Discourse is a Path to Move Forward

Article audio is made possible by CAST11 Prescott Podcast Network. A Talking Glass Media production.

“The pen is mightier than the sword” – today, each word that comes out of our mouth is more influential than ever. From simple Tweets to a soundbite from a presidential speech, our media amplifies our rhetoric, and unfortunately, as we can see from declining faith in government and deepening ideological divisions in our local community, this power isn’t being used responsibly.

The attachment of emotion to discourse is the reason so many debates devolve into mudslinging. When identity becomes entangled in such important topics, it is impossible to find a middle ground, leading to the stagnation we have seen in politics and in our community. It strips away human connections, replacing them with tribalization and identity politics.

Our initial desire for healthy dialogue can easily be forgotten in the heat of debate. The goal in entering these conversations is not to “win” or to change others’ minds. Instead, the goal should be to simply maintain an empathetic dialogue, which reintroduces the humanity that has been stripped away from our community. That is, after all, the first step in the journey towards reconciliation. The goal of the Teen Advisory Council for the past few years has been to break down the silos that we might not even be aware that we’re in, and striving to connect with Prescott as a community.

At the core of The Launch Pad’s Better Together campaign is the hope that, by sparking meaningful conversation over the dinner table, that we can unite firstly as a local community, and then as a Nation.

Our guidebook is the culmination of TAC’s research phase that the teens have devoted their energy to, and is packed full of tips on how to approach tough topics from an objective and empathetic perspective. The teens developed it with Yavapai families in mind, centering around the topics most vital to our citizens.

The youth of the Teen Advisory Council have put so many hours towards the development of this guidebook because we are tired of seeing our inability to communicate divide us, and we want to instead rebuild our community, starting with our families.

Only a desire to understand and to include will bring us together. Over the past two years, I’ve witnessed the Launch Pad embrace not just teens, but empower all who are willing to begin taking steps towards unity. At a time when rational voices are drowned out by fears of uncertainty and chaos, it is more important than ever in this hour that we come together.

So, this Valentine’s season, don’t shy away from the difficult conversations. Instead, have the courage to love our community and connect us all a little more with each conversation. Instead of being dismissive and impulsive, be deliberate with words and truly seek understanding. But at the same time, set boundaries for yourself, and know when the right time is to step away.

These are the hurdles that must be overcome to bring Prescott together. I would urge us to return to our basic human values: a compassion for one another, a desire to see justice done, and a dream to see our community continue healing. If we can come together in such a chaotic time, as we have done so many times throughout our history – as sons and daughters of Yavapai County, as Arizonans, and as Americans – then that is one more point of pride in our identities.

If you’d like to join the mission for better communication and unity in our community, explore the work of the Teen Advisory Council at bettertogethertalks.com. TAC applications are now open and available here or at thelaunchpadteencenter.org/leadership.

Toby Chang is a high school senior at BASIS Prescott, and a three-year member of the Teen Advisory Council. His passion for government and community change is what drives him to work towards overcoming political polarization and a unified Prescott. He hopes to pursue an education and career in elected politics, always striving towards a voice for all.

Learn who else is making a difference in the quad cities with more stories from Community Connections on Signals A Z.com!

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