For Immediate Release: Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Contact: Genevieve Greene, ggreene@seventy.org, 617-785-6991
Philadelphia, PA – The Committee of Seventy’s President and CEO, Lauren Cristella, provided the following tips and advice for people concerned about potentially contentious political discussions during the holiday season.
“The Committee of Seventy understands that after the 2024 election, Thanksgiving may be tough this year and we want to help you make it easier. It is one thing to have anonymous debates over social media, but it is another when faced with your relatives across the dinner table. We want to make sure you and your family enjoy (or at least tolerate) each other this holiday.
We know that Americans of diverse views can talk about things that matter in a way that leads to insight, not insults, to learning, not lashing out. And there is a reason that the First Amendment of the Constitution is freedom of speech and a bedrock of our democracy. Please keep that in mind as you gather around your dinner table. After taking a moment before the conversation to prepare and center yourself, here are some helpful hints from our Can We Talk? program:
- Go around the table and have each person share what (nonpolitical thing) they are grateful for this year.
- Listen to understand, instead of talking to persuade.
- Make room for everyone to speak.
- It’s okay to disagree.
- Try to build on each other’s ideas.
- Ask clarifying questions.
- Consider the possibility that your information may be incomplete.
- Ask who is not in the room and what might they say?
- Be honest, but never mean.
- Take a break if you need to, but always set a time to circle back.
- One more time: listen.
Finally, if all else fails and nothing else works, then excuse yourself to get more dessert. After all, if America is built on free speech, then it is comforted by pie.”
More resources can be found on Seventy’s website here. Lauren Cristella, President and CEO of the Committee of Seventy, is available for interviews and commentary.
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About Committee of Seventy
The Committee of Seventy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that has promoted, supported and facilitated government ethics and election integrity for more than a century. Seventy advocates for more free, fair, safe and secure elections and works to ensure that every eligible voter votes, is informed when they vote, and votes with confidence. For more information, visit: https://live-c70.pantheonsite.io/.