Home > About Rich's Work > Rich's Blog: Redeeming Hope
Printable Version
Tell a friend
The Voices of Red and Blue
-
Jun 7, 2005 Posted by Rich HarwoodWhen discussing my work over the years, I have often told people, “When I’m talking with a group of citizens, if I close my eyes and listen, I often find it impossible to tell whether the person speaking is a Republican or a Democrat, the region of the country they’re from, or their income or education.” I’m sure you’ve read those very words in this space before. Often this comment is met with polite skepticism. At a time when we are constantly reminded of the divisions facing our society, it’s understandable that people wonder, “How can this be?”
Last month, I conducted two focus groups on similar topics in two very different areas of the country – one suburban and strongly Republican, the other an urban Democratic stronghold. As I listened, I again found it difficult to tell people apart across the divides. But, to steal a phrase from Reading Rainbow, you don’t have to take my word for it.
I’ve put together some sample quotes, one from each group, on different issues discussed in both groups. I invite you to read them, and decide for yourself which ones you think are the Red voices, and which are the Blue.
Once you finish, use the comment function on this post to discuss your results. I’m interested to hear what you think.
Click here to read the voices of Red and Blue.
-
Jun 15, 2005 | Patrick Miller | pmiller@theharwoodinstitute.org
As my email address was not displayed in the previous comment, please note that I can be reached via email at pmiller@theharwoodinstitute.org for more information about Hope Unraveled. http://pmiller@theharwoodinstitute.org
-
Jun 15, 2005 | Patrick Miller | pmiller@theharwoodinstitute.org
As we undertake our work at The Harwood Institute, the importance of context emerges time and time again. While there was no context provided in this exercise, we did make an effort to use quotes that reflected consistant themes we heard throughout each conversation. Though, admittedly, the nature of the exercise did not leave much room for more than a few sentences.
Anyone who is interested in the context of these quotes, and the voices of many others over the past 15 years will want to read Richard Harwood's book Hope Unraveled, which will be released this fall. Please send me an email by clicking on my name below if you'd like to be notified when it's available for purchase.
We greatly appreciate all the comments, please keep them coming
Patrick Miller The Harwood Institute
-
Jun 15, 2005 | Debbie | deb@debnuss.net
I agree with an earlier comment that while this little exercise might be interesting, the outcome was predictable and more importantly meaningless. When taken out of context, it's quite easy to find comments that appear to be aligned more closely with one party or another, but when put back into context might reveal a deeper meaning or a different meaning altogether. However, having said that, I do yearn for our nation's dialogue and the dialogue within our respective communities to once again be issue-focused and civil rather than agenda-driven and idealogical.
-
Jun 15, 2005 | Eino | mpeyer1@auncor.com
I think all the comments were indicative of people who have bought into the 'big government will save me' sales pitch. We Libertarians have been saying forever that you can't tell the Republicrats apart. God help us all now that the national (federal?) government has all the power it needs to control us.
-
Jun 14, 2005 | doris sain | djsain@aol.com
I got 2 right. Surprised. I am a democrat and feel stronger than ever about the platform. I think Bush won his election based on guns, gays and abortion. I think he is a lier (as bad or worse than Clinton!) I believe Michigan is in for as bad a time as they've experienced in 40-50 years. I think China and India will eat our lunch. I don't shop at Wal-Mart! Talk my lungs out to as many people that will listen to me regardidng Wal-Mart/Sam's. My savings will be reserved for my grandkids....for college. I can do this if I don't lose most of my pension...and S.S. continues to exist for me...which I believe most of it will. I believe the U.S. will become a distribution center for third world products. My husband was a GM/UAW leader. Told me 30 years ago our jobs would go over seas. I have a psychologist friend who told me some 18-20 years ago that he would see a revolution in this country before he died (he's 55) ....there will be just too many problems of adjustment to the enviroment along with other phenomena associated with consciousness and behavior.
I will remain hopeful....because when there is hope...we will continue to struggle.
Thank you for letting us (public) express some of our opinions.
Doris Sain, Flint, MI
-
Jun 14, 2005 | Steven H Johnson | sjohnson@simcivic.org
That humans throughout the world constitute one human family is a biological fact. It is also a spiritual calling, and something that deserves widespread ethical recognition. Or, less formally, a toast to Rich for recognizing the humanity in all of us! http://www.simcivic.org
-
Jun 14, 2005 | john javna | earthworks@opendoor.com
Interesting, but predictable because the comments were intentionally atypical. If the sample demonstrates anything, it's that comments taken out of context are pretty meaningless. What, for example, did the Red-stater's endorsement of diverse communities mean? Black-white? Liberal-conservative? Christian- Moslem? And how does this idea, whatever it means, manifest itself in the person's life? Does honoring diversity mean they support a true separation of church and state..or just a multicultural version of Christian fundamentalism? Could be either...or many other possibilities. This brings up another issue: as Lakoff has demonstrated, words used by both the left and right---eg, "community"---can have wildly different meanings. (The words are the same, but the world-views behind them are different.) It's context and application that give words meaning. Your little test offers neither, so it seems fatally flawed to me. http://earthworks