Action Step: Consider a Few Ground Rules for Our Road Trip

(I want to make it safe for myself and others to be heard)

A Serious Question...

Can we trust each other?

It’s a valid question! We The People, version 4.0, is only possible if we build trust. To grow trust, starts with a commitment.

The simple act of talking about ground rules helps us to build strong trust with one another.  These 3 ground rules have emerged as a starting place to talk. From this foundation WE can build  both brave and safe exploratory discussions – as we Fight To Understand more and more difficult issues.  Thus, the ground rules are forever under construction.

Consider a Few Ground Rules

  1. 1. Desire to understand and support your community.
  2. 2. Desire to understand and love your neighbor.
  3. 3. Bring your whole self, including your passions (without being offensive).
It is absolutely NOT IMPORTANT that you commit to being perfect about the ground rules. It is also not important to sign a form. It IS IMPORTANT that you have an inner desire to learn how to Fight-To-Understand them as a goal. These first 3-groundrules set the foundation at Dinner and a Fight events for exploring (dialogue) about complex American topics. To move beyond dialogue to deliberation(deciding), please consider adding three more ground rules:
  1. 4. Desire to be open minded.
  2. 5. Exercise a spirit of curiosity.
  3. 6. Be willing to learn from other’s different viewpoints.
We’ve found these ground rules to be easy, safe and productive.
The final piece of safety that we’ll suggest, is the Circle Model. In the Circle Model, you will see where Liberals and Conservatives collaborate in “the sweet spot / the purple zone,” the many traits we have in common, and how WE need guardrails to keep us from crossing-the-line.

Send us a comment about the Ground Rules

Forever under construction
The original 18 collaborators for the book: Is America Broken? developed these 7 ground rules. A similar, yet unique perspective.
  1. Desire to seek harmony, like an orchestra.
  2. Desire to live within the law, including paths to change the law.
  3. Protect confidentiality and equal opportunity.
  4. Do no harm (physical, verbal, emotional, fiscal…).
  5. Act as scientist / explorers / jury seeking the truth.
  6. Do not abandon your fellow explorer.
  7. Say “ouch” when it hurts. Call “time out” when needing a break or an outside influence.

WE ALSO PROMISE:

  • That Fighting To Understand is NOT a disguise for socialism. FTU is no more a vehicle for socialism than the intent of our founders: we the people . . . . equal under the law . . . pursuing the inalienable rights of life, liberty and happiness.
  • That Fighting To Understand is NOT a disguised return to “Christian roots.” FTU is rooted in basic human values of inclusive goodwill, which we believe do include Christian values, Jewish values, Muslim values, Hindu values, Buddhist values, Quaker values, etc. The 7 ground rules here are intended to be a foundation from which we can rebuild these shared values.

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