These are days when we would be wise to consider the words of poet Maya Angelou: “We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.”

If you’ve been around for a while, you may recall dinner parties derailed by discussions of the Vietnam War, the Equal Rights Amendment, Watergate, the Gulf War, the Affordable Care Act, and, more recently, COVID-19 masks. Somehow, over time, we managed to set aside our differences, dust ourselves off, and return to the dinner table to rub shoulders with those who have held opposing views.

Yet despite this history, the current political landscape feels more treacherous and polarized than ever. Our passions are supercharged, fueled by the highest of stakes, and inflamed by social media, where we can debate and argue with those we may never meet. Also, more frequently, we are seeing extreme views expressed vociferously, resulting in violent actions that further escalate tensions.

Navigating such conversations with those who hold differing views isn’t for the faint of heart. How can we de-escalate our interactions and begin to build a consensus?

One approach is to embrace the spirit of Sawubona, the ancient Zulu greeting that means “I see you.” It implies, “I know you and recognize your worth, passions, pain, strengths, weaknesses, and life experiences.” It’s a sentiment grounded in the belief that people are inherently good and do their best with the circumstances they've been handed.

This perspective resonated with me recently as I listened to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer explain that she wants to eventually meet the men who........

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