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- Share a difficult conversation, someone in your family, a co-worker or friend where you have conversations that don't quite work.
- Romney wrote "No Apology: Believe in America." Does this title make sense to you? For most liberals, American Exceptionalism isn't so much something we disagree with, rather it is completely foreign and pointless. Explore why a man with focus groups at his fingertips would choose "No Apology" as a title, why does this work, and how could liberals engage a conversation we are not currently part of?
- Review the various threads of cognitive science and politics: Lakoff's framing, anti-fascism work that started in the 50's, conservatism and fear research (and its critics/limits), Haidt and other's very recent Moral Foundations, and historical examples: did MLK follow Lakoff's advice, Haidts?
- Pick an issue and explore what each of these theories would advise.
- Practice conversation techniques and politics. This is especially good combined with the first exercise, thinking about specific difficult conversations, then using active listening, Non-Violent Communications, or any other favored technique.
