Communication

The other day, I was listening to a podcast from the Lincoln Project. Rick Wilson was interviewing Adam Frisch, the candidate for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, and they were discussing the importance of speaking to voters with dignity. This got me thinking—what does it truly mean to communicate with dignity? More importantly, how does one ensure that the person receiving that respect understands they are being treated with dignity?

Webster defines dignity as “formal reserve or seriousness of manner, appearance, or language,” while respect is defined as “a relation or reference to a particular thing or situation.” Mr. Frisch pointed out that voters don’t like being talked down to, and he’s absolutely right. However, if simply pointing out misinformation or correcting a false belief is perceived as condescending, then our country is in deeper trouble than we realize.

Consider this: how does one respectfully engage with someone who insists that Democrats cannot be Christians or be saved? Or with someone who falsely believes that 75% of welfare recipients are minorities? A powerful example of dignity and respect in communication came from Senator John McCain during the 2008 presidential campaign. When a woman at a town hall claimed that Barack Obama was a Muslim, McCain, in a calm and measured tone, gently corrected her, stating, “No, ma’am, he’s a decent family man, a citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with.”

Did his response change her mind? Did it influence those who had been misled by right-wing propaganda? Perhaps not. But it demonstrated the kind of respectful dialogue we should strive for. So, how do we apply this approach when speaking with what I’ll call "MAGA-light" individuals—those who may not be fully entrenched in extremist beliefs but still hold onto misinformation? How do we engage in a way that upholds dignity while challenging falsehoods?