Two Movies, One Screen

It’s crucial to recognize that what we’re seeing is not a clash between classic liberal or conservative policy differences. Gay rights, taxes, that kind of thing.

That’s not what the chasm is about. At all.

It’s a clash between two different worldviews.

Two different stories about the nature of the reality that we live in.

We live in two completely different perspectives, and even though we see the

exact same event on the TV screen, how we see it is vastly different.

It’s like we’re watching two movies on one screen, a phrase coined by

cartoonist and hypnotist Scott Adams.

This is precisely why it’s so important that we talk to and listen to each other.

Both sides think they’re right. Both sides think the other side is a threat to

democracy. Both sides consider people on the other side “low information

voters”. Both sides can’t believe the election’s this close when the choice is

so obvious.

This is the problem. That’s why we must listen and understand each other.

You may find “their” worldview abhorrent, or that it’s quite a stretch to see it

that way, that you’d have to be naive or gullible or a tin foil hat conspiracy

theorist, or however you judge it. That’s fine.

But understand that a significant portion of your fellow citizens do see it that

way. Probably members of your own family too.

We need to understand each other and respect the fact that “they” have

good reasons to believe what they believe.

If you’d seen what they’ve seen, if you’d had similar personal experiences,

you’d probably see the world the same way they do.14

Learn. Understand.

Don’t judge. Appreciate.

We’re all doing the best we know how to.

I’m going to lay out the two world views as best as I can.