When we decide it’s acceptable to hear other perspectives, we stop reducing everyone who disagrees with us to a caricature. We also stop relying on oversimplified headlines or the easy comfort of an echo chamber.
Next time there’s an awkward pause about a current event, seize the opportunity to engage. Ask open-ended questions, compare sources, and approach different views with respect. You might face tension, but you’ll likely learn something new. Let’s be thankful that we still live in a country where we have freedom of expression and use it to broaden our horizons, not shrink them.