Voices: We know a place where humans can disagree and still get along

As Utahns head to the polls on Nov. 4, what if we all recognized a tremendous challenge that precedes and supersedes all other issues and candidates presented on our ballots? What if we took seriously the huge and widening ideological divides that plague our politics and pervade our civil discourse?

Much ink has been spilled by thought leaders and talking heads about America’s growing divides, while often stoking them at the same time. These tirades often end with a sigh, a shrug, maybe a moral scolding but little practical advice on productive ways forward.

Here in Utah, Gov. Spencer Cox has laudably made it a cornerstone of his leadership to speak to the local and national need to “disagree better.” Cox championed that message even in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, when partisans were all too eager to find in the tragedy mere kindling for their ideological fires. And yet, even with such leaders standing up, we find ourselves more divided than ever before, with no clear way to meaningfully build bridges.

Enter “The Connection Opportunity: Insights For Bringing Americans Together Across Difference.” This study was produced earlier this year by More In Common, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit research group. Through deep research in every region across the U.S., the study revealed many insights on the current state of our divided nation, sources of our division and some practical recommendations on how we might move forward together.

The study identified many of the usual suspects behind the sources of our division and discontent: our lives are increasingly occupied by screens (five hours per day for the average adult), and our numerous daily tasks are online and “frictionless” (meaning we haven’t engaged with actual human beings). We are increasingly in silos amongst people that share our ethnic, socioeconomic and ideological backgrounds.

Despite these disappointing trends, More in Common researchers were astounded to find that the majority of Americans, regardless of background, expressed a desire to engage more regularly with others different from them. Rather than finding comfort in their silos, Americans are yearning for something different.

And yet, here’s an even more surprising (and encouraging) finding uncovered in the study: When asked what the biggest barrier was for engaging across differences, the most common answer from respondents was they lacked the opportunity and place to do so.

In other words, American tribalism and division is not necessarily a political crisis, but simply a lack of opportunities for genuine human connection across differences.

At the Salt Lake City Public Library, we recognize our important role in recovering and nurturing places where citizens can engage across differences in meaningful and transformative ways.

One way we’re doing this is through the “Foothill Forum” at our Anderson-Foothill Branch, where local residents gather on a monthly basis to discuss a book related to a current issue and engage in thoughtful, civil dialogue.

The Foothill Forum encourages patrons to engage over contentious issues through discussing books that address these topics. Through facilitated conversations, patrons become active participants in exploring issues, expressing their viewpoints and listening to others’ perspectives. Some issues we’ve examined this past year include homelessness, immigration and transgender rights.

While viewpoints may at times be uncomfortable to hear, this diversity of thought deepens understanding and broadens awareness of perspectives some may not have considered. The process encourages us to move out of our ideological silos and helps break down the barriers sometimes created by our current information environment.

So far, the Forum has welcomed a wide range of participants, from teachers and medical professionals to retirees and students. Each has contributed valuable insights shaped by their experiences. Their engagement has made the Forum what it is today: a space that rekindles a civic spirit, fosters thoughtful discussion and deliberation and inspires individuals to take an active role in the pressing issues that shape our time.

Through programs like the “Foothill Forum,” we are recovering something from our shared national history, while unearthing something new. We are breathing new life into the idea of “the public square,” a historic cornerstone of democratic life in the U.S. Perhaps our hope for a future in Utah, one that can serve as an example for the rest of the nation, can be found in such humble places and gatherings at your neighborhood public library branch, where people from all walks of life are mixing, engaging and connecting every single day.

Join us at the Foothill Forum or find other upcoming opportunities to engage with your neighbors through the Salt Lake City Public Library system.

Noah Baskett is CEO/Director of the Salt Lake City Public Library. Jeff Ouellette is the Adult Services Librarian for the Foothill Branch Library.

The Salt Lake Tribune is committed to creating a space where Utahns can share ideas, perspectives and solutions that move our state forward. We rely on your insight to do this. Find out how to share your opinion here, and email us at voices@sltrib.com.