At the end of an election year, there is ample evidence that this country is still, in so many ways, divided. What else can explain how the same candidate can appear to one person as the only chance of saving our troubled country, and to another person appear to be a sure way to ruination? Few of us need reminding of how different we are from one another in perceptions of the world and in the values that we attach to everyday goings on.
Less frequently do we take time to think about the many ways that we are similar to one another. We have lived in an “us and them” world for so long that it is almost easier to continue to focus on differences, and it is certainly more comfortable to do so at times.
But despite our obvious differences that are reflected in the color of our skin, our differences in language, gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, we are probably more alike than different in most ways. Science has certainly shown this to be the case on a genetic level with the human genome research revealing that all humans are 99.9% identical to each other.
It is out of my long held belief that people are more alike than different that the concept of The Convergence Project was born. My immediate challenge was to take an subjective belief—that we are more alike than different—and turn it into a operating model that was not moralistic and preachy, but practical and pragmatic. I felt that, for it to work, people would not want to feel like they were participating in some lofty “social experiment.” If people were to participate in a process that would require their time, and perhaps even a level of discomfort, they would need to feel that there was something in it for them.
And now, nearly a year after The Convergence Project received its tax-exempt designation as a nonprofit, we feel we are accomplishing those goals and more. Recognizing that the way most people identify with the world is through groups that they associate with, we selected groups and organizations as our focus. Our mission became the following: To facilitate the coming together of diverse or opposing groups and organizations to find common ground, and then to help the groups identify a project that they can do together in their community. Implicit in our model is that it is possible to get more of what you want while compromising nothing of what you believe or value.
Most third party interventions between dissimilar groups ask for a compromise, a giving up of something, usually a giving up of beliefs or values. And in most cases, this is what causes most interventions to fail.
People would almost prefer to sever a body part than they would to give up what they believe or value. This fact has contributed, to a large degree, to the polarization that our society now experiences.
But what is typically overlooked is the common ground, the area of existing agreement. The “not seeing the forest for the trees” metaphor is an apt one here, because the common ground is often right in front of our face. Take for example two obviously opposing groups, one that is Right to Life in its belief system and another that is Pro-Choice. While there are many areas on which they clearly disagree and will never agree, might their common ground goal be a desire to reduce unwanted pregnancy in their community?
Assuming that it is possible to identify the area of existing agreement, identifying a project is the practical extension of this process. And while the project that the groups complete together can, no doubt, be of great importance to any given community, it is possible that the process is of equal, if not greater significance.
We welcome and encourage discussion about this topic on this site, recognizing that there is more than one answer to the complex question of how why we are divided and what can be done to remedy the division. For more information on our process and on our upcoming forum, we invite you to visit our website at www.TheConvergenceProject.org or to email us at info@TheConvergenceProject.org
Brock Oyler
President and Executive Director
The Convergence Project
Thanks for writing, great stuff. I’m looking forward to it.
Hello Brock, as a political letter writer and artist, I see your project as a necessary bridge. In the past I have strived to create political art that was a expose of horrific decisions balanced with the possibilities of the future. Yet when it gets into conversation, it seems that rational thought gives way to cliches, learned talking points, and shouting. Not a conversation, just spouting. I have a show coming up for Inauguration that I hope all sides could come and see and converse, and I hope that you could help bring liberals and conservatives to this Salida event. Then see you at the library too. I’ll be doing an online interview with Bill Donovan shortly as to the intent and details.
Thank YOU for your efforts. Jimmy Descant
I first encountered Brock Oyler’s brain child of the Convergence Project on a work for hire basis, assisting in the graphic design. At the time it was a fragile idea with so much potential (we both wished the budget matched at the time) that it was impossible to ignore. To see this mature over the past year (congrats on the non-profit status, Brock!) through the local paper and word of mouth has been a real joy. To see an idea with such daunting aspirations actually succeed, even on a local level, has been one of the most heartening exeriences in Salida. Thanks, Brock. Here’s to greater success for you and your organization!
Ryan O’Brien
Salida CITZEN