I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times

In I Never Thought of It That Way, Mónica Guzmán presents cross-political dialogue as not merely a personal choice, but a vital societal necessity. Through her exploration of political polarization, Guzmán demonstrates that meaningful engagement requires a combination of personal relationships, acknowledgment of shared humanity, and recognition that perceived differences are often exaggerated by social and media structures. Throughout the text, Guzmán thus emphasizes the importance of bridging divides to facilitate greater understanding in democratic societies. 

The power of personal relationships in bridging political divides is illustrated through Guzmán’s observations of cross-partisan interactions. She recounts how former Democratic Representative David Skaggs of Colorado and former Republican Representative Bob Livingston of Louisiana maintained an effective working relationship during their time in Congress, demonstrating how personal connections can transcend political boundaries (12). This example gains particular significance when contrasted with the modern Congressional schedule, where legislators spend minimal time in Washington, reducing opportunities for cross-partisan relationship building. As Guzmán notes through her research, the change to a three-day Congressional workweek in 1995 dramatically reduced opportunities for legislators to develop personal relationships across party lines.

The recognition of shared humanity emerges as another crucial element in bridging political divides. Guzmán illustrates this through her account of Philip Campbell, a protester during the COVID-19 lockdowns, who expressed his dilemma through an analogy: “It’s like I’ve got my mom hanging from a cliff and my child hanging from the other side, and I’m being told to save one” (41).