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SCOTUS skeptical that state abortion bans conflict with federal health care law; Iowa advocates for immigrants push back on Texas-style deportation bill; new hearings, same arguments on both sides for ND pipeline project; clean-air activists to hold "die-in" Friday at LA City Hall.

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"Squad" member Summer Lee wins her primary with a pro-peace platform, Biden signs huge foreign aid bills including support for Ukraine and Israel, and the Arizona House repeals an abortion ban as California moves to welcome Arizona doctors.

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The urban-rural death divide is widening for working-age Americans, many home internet connections established for rural students during COVID have been broken, and a new federal rule aims to put the "public" back in public lands.

A New Take on Tension, Civility in Politics

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Monday, July 22, 2013   

SEATTLE - A man whose big ideas about education changed the public dialogue about teaching in the U.S. is now taking on the gridlock in Congress. Parker J. Palmer held workshops about democracy last week in Seattle. He is known for his best-seller "The Courage to Teach," which asserted that it is not the methods used, but a teacher's integrity and heart that make a real difference in the classroom.

In his latest book, Palmer says the same principles can benefit politicians. He told the Seattle crowd that strong disagreements are part of a strong nation - as long as they are also creative and respectful.

"Fifteen to 20 percent of the people on the far left and 15 to 20 percent of the people on the far right will never be able to join in the kind of civil dialogue that I'm calling for," Palmer said. "But that still leaves 60 percent in the middle, which is way more than enough to do business in a democracy."

In Palmer's view, civility in politics is not a matter of people being more polite. He called democracy "a non-stop experiment in the strengths and weaknesses of political institutions," and said tension is key to the process.

"It is a system that was designed to hold tensions, problems, questions - to keep them on the table so that we can keep returning to them for better answers. The question is, can we hold those tensions creatively, in a way that doesn't create enemies, doesn't demonize people who think differently from us."

Palmer cited the backlash over the Supreme Court's "Citizens United" decision as a good example of how democracy can work. He noted that since the decision allowing corporations the same free speech rights as individuals, 16 states of all political leanings have passed resolutions to amend the Constitution and overturn the ruling.

Even divisions within a political party can be healthy, he added.

"Party membership for a lot of thoughtful people means, 'I lean in that direction, but I often disagree with my own party.' That's part of what keeps a party alive," he said. "When you get the true believers, who say, 'My party right or wrong' and start forgetting about what's wrong, then you're in trouble."

Palmer founded the Center for Courage and Renewal in Seattle. His latest book is "Healing the Heart of Democracy."

The workshops were co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Washington.





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