The Potential for Unity
By Hunter Estes (SFS'19)
On Monday evening, after a long day of work, representatives, senators, staffers, and students from across the political spectrum came together for a discussion on bipartisanship and civility within politics. The conversation took place during a critical time for our nation. The divide of partisan politics seems to continue to relentlessly expand, striking a wedge in relationships across the country. However, if we are currently in a dark moment historically, the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life's Salt and Light event at the Capitol last night was a beacon of hope.
Representative Debbie Dingell of Michigan, Representative John Delaney of Maryland, and Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina each gave their thoughts on the current state of civility in politics and offered perspectives on how we could move forward as a nation. Each struck a similar chord in their analysis of what went wrong, and what needs to happen to move forward as a more united nation.
Representative Dingell kicked off the event and made her point clearly when she said, "[i]n the 1980s and 1990s we used to go to dinner together and get to know one another…you're not going to find common ground if you don't sit down to talk with people." Both Senator Scott and Rep. Delaney echoed this point: in Washington, D.C., congressmen used to build relationships with one another, something that doesn't really happen anymore. The consequence of this is that it becomes much easier to launch partisan attacks against an individual you don't know rather than somebody that you regularly eat dinner with. Also, it becomes much more difficult to learn about the common ground one holds with a member of the opposite party if you never talk to that individual.
Although the situation may look bleak now, each of the political leaders offered a hopeful message for the future. Dingell, Delaney, and Scott all agreed that we must come together and focus on what binds us, not what divides us. Senator Scott said that, "We ought to find the specific areas where there is common ground and focus on that." With this, Senator Scott called for cooperation on specific issues of agreement, without having the process of legislating constantly bogged down by the issues members disagree on. Rep. Delaney, himself a graduate of Georgetown Law School, gave a thoughtful reminder that "our goal ought to be to shape a better society," for, "this is what our Catholic and Jesuit values teach us."
As I talked with people who were leaving the event, including students, staffers, and interns, each reflected that the discussion was a welcome bit of refreshment amidst the state of other political discourse. The congressmen left people feeling hopeful for the future, and the potential of cooperation among our political leaders. As Senator Tim Scott closed out the event, he told the packed room that he thinks "our future's incredibly bright, as long as we remember that we are a single American family." Indeed, truly the first step to national unity is remembering that we have more in common than we do in difference. If the words of these leaders offer any insight into the future, then I, too, am hopeful for the future of civility and bipartisanship amongst our leaders.
Hunter Estes (SFS'19) is a junior in the Walsh School of Foreign Service studying international politics.