3 minutes reading time.

A person who stops engaging in dialogue can be convinced of almost any nonsense. “Isolated and alone, we have an incredible ability to deceive ourselves and create images of ourselves that are, at best, one-dimensional. Others tear us from our imaginary worlds,” argues Australian writer Matthew Kelly. Diverse dialogue keeps us honest; it provides an opportunity to listen to what we think and experience what it generates in others. Dialogue opens us to other perspectives; it allows us to see that this truth, so obvious to me, contains several assumptions that are not necessarily shared by others.

And the more "opposing" the point of view, the greater the (potential) possibility of breaking down the reductionisms inherent in our subjectivity. Why do we so often fear political dialogue? Because deep down, we believe that the opposing position represents a threat. What's wrong with the other person trying to convince me of their point of view—with the appropriate arguments—if we keep in mind that we always have the freedom to draw our own conclusions? Do we give ourselves that freedom to listen? Do we maintain that critical distance? Do we allow ourselves to question again to see what's true in the opposing position?

You can talk about everything, when you want honestly knowing how the other person thinks and there are almost no topics left to talk about when we are only looking to reinforce our points of view.

These days, I've read several comments about how family dialogue began to polarize after the last election. If we don't practice talking with those who hold opposing views within the family (where we are generally bound by bonds of love and respect), how do we expect this conversation to happen in the public sphere? Where are we going to learn to do it?

I think so. We should talk about politics at the Sunday barbecue, at dinner with friends, at least once in a while. And if things end badly, apologize and try again. As Habermas said, democracy without dialogue is another imaginary world.