Beyond US and THEM

America's motto is "E pluribus unum" - from many, one.Yet, America is deeply divided.Half the members of each political party say they fear and distrust members of the other political party. Neighbors, friends and family members with opposing ideologies shout at each other or stop speaking to each other.

How did we get here? Can we turn around? Can we listen to each other and work together as neighbors and fellow citizens? Should we even try, when our differences are so profound? Can we work wholeheartedly for justice as we see it while recognizing the humanity and decency of people working toward a very different version of justice?

Most of us start conversations with good intent - we want them to be constructive and we don't want them to harm our relationships. Alas, when it comes to politics, we somehow manage to fail every time

BEYOND US AND THEM urges readers to look at the deep stories and influences that shape our different religious and political views. People whose opinions are opposed may still be able to identify with the love and pain that guide their opponents.

Do your political choices seem obvious to you? Do the opposite opinions appear completely irrational?

We all fall prey to our own devices, and we all think WE are right and THEY are wrong. This book will help you look beyond your personal horizon, no matter what your political beliefs are.

The book will also help you have more constructive conversations and less heated ones. It will show you how to:

-Meet and listen to people who don't agree with you. Don't shun your relative from the opposite party.

-Ask before you argue: Where did you hear that? What's your experience with people in this group? What makes this so important to you?

-Shift conversations from debate mode to storytelling mode. Dial down the heat, inject some nuance, let the other person know you see them as human.

-Understand the other person's moral framework. Try to make your case in terms that make sense to them.

We need to remain connected across political divides. Understanding ourselves and others is vital to the health of our nation, our neighborhoods, our families and our minds.