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Don’t let politics come between friends

Clarence Page, Tribune Content Agency on

Fortunately, part one of what Oldenburg hopes will be a two- or three-part “Swing State” series, was filmed before the rancor of the bad news out of Kenosha this summer. Violence exploded there in August after the police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake. That was followed by protests that led to the fatal shooting of two protesters for which Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old self-styled militiaman from Illinois, has been charged.

Instead, “Swing State” offers a view quiet enough to hear people talk about how they voted four years ago, how they plan to vote this time and how these important decisions have affected their community lives.

Watching the documentary, I was struck by a palpable sadness in some of the interviewees, especially when they talked about the discomfort that has entered political discussions.

It’s the sort of sadness I’ve seen or heard from emailers and some live people, including some grumpy uncles, around the country who have learned the hard way that political talk in these times can easily be taken the wrong way.

On occasion, I have received an angry invective-filled email that suddenly takes a quieter, revealing turn in its closing line: “Thanks for letting me vent.”

You’re welcome. Who says we media workers don’t offer a public service?

For now, as one thoughtful young Wisconsin man says near the end of the film, “We need to listen to each other.

 

“It doesn’t matter who’s right or wrong as long as we listen to each other and hear each other out. … I hope to do more of that myself.”

So do I. So should we all, as long as it doesn’t spoil the family dinner.

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(E-mail Clarence Page at cpage@chicagotribune.com.)

©2020 Clarence Page. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


(c) 2020 CLARENCE PAGE DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.

 

 

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