Description:

Hilary Clinton states in her autobiography that her statement hurt her in the 2016 election: “You know, to just be grossly generalistic, you could put half of Trump’s supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables. Right? The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic—you name it. And unfortunately there are people like that. And he has lifted them up.”  Arlie Hochschild, in Stolen Pride: Loss, Shame and the Rise of the Right, tells stories from Eastern Kentucky demonstrating how political shaming generates resentment. 

So how can we do political advocacy without shaming? How can we respond to racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. in a way that is not shaming? 

Nonviolent Communication offers a language to speak up for ones needs without making the other person “wrong”. It offers a way to transform harmful belief systems while valuing the person who holds those beliefs. Now more than ever, we need a way to communicate that does not seek a change of heart through coercive social pressure. 

In this workshop we’ll reflect on how Marshall Rosenberg responded to anti-Semitic comments. We’ll use role plays to practice powerful compassionate communication.