By Andrew Syed
Imagine a world where everyone agreed. Where everyone’s perspective was exactly the same. Where there was zero diversity in opinion on matters small and large. As we traverse through a world that clearly is struggling with the very real fact that there is disagreement everywhere, it might be tempting to imagine that a world where everyone believed the same things about everything might be a more enviable choice.
Back to reality. Disagreement is everywhere, literally. From the very origins of the universe to who the greatest basketball player of all time might be, we disagree. If Political Science is the field that studies how a society chooses to govern itself, our current political discourse demonstrates clearly that we do not agree on how we are to live together. We simply do not align in more ways than we can count.
I want to posit that this is a good thing. Maybe even a great thing. Disagreement is a form of conflict. Friction. It should encourage us to think, to contemplate, to self-reflect. It should also invite us to challenge ourselves to learn more about the position on which we stand. Each one of us is a subjective being, interpreting things through our own well-honed lenses. Disagreement and conflict is an opportunity to adjust those lenses and learn something new. In short, disagreement, conflict, friction – these are the elements of growth.
Someone close to me once remarked, “I never read anything I disagree with.” This was long before our social media feeds were tailored to our every desire, longing, and belief. We are literally fed each and every day by a world that exploits our disagreements and forces them into divisions. At The Conflict Center, we work everyday to turn that tide. We value the disagreement, the conflict, the friction. We see it as an opportunity for growth, for an expanded perspective, for needed change. The only conversion we seek to elicit is the perspective that disagreement should be avoided at all costs. We see a potential where all the colors and sounds can create a tapestry that is far more beautiful than everyone simply singing the same note. In many ways, we teach the skills to connect and discover harmony with others.
Speaking of music, Bono, of the rock band U2, was asked how his band was able to stay together after all these years despite so many other bands breaking up. He said,
“The hardest thing to do is to stick together. Mates, family, marriage, business, band. It’s like resisting gravity. It’s like King Canute sitting in his chair trying to talk back the tide. But you can, and we have, and we will turn the waves around. The alternative is too predictable. You rid the room of argument. You empty your life of the people you need the most.” Bono
The inherent value of disagreement lies in the opportunity to learn. A world where everyone agrees is a world with no room for that growth. It is a world where nothing of significance can happen. Let’s not rid the room of argument. Therein lies the chance to grow.
Andrew Syed
Executive Director
The Conflict Center
