The Path to Persuasion: Lessons from an Unlikely Encounter
Throughout our Common Ground series, I have passionately argued that there is, in fact, a tremendous amount of agreement in our nation, far more than most people might think. I've proclaimed this truth here, on our daily radio show, and on our podcast, boldly stating that a whopping 80% of Americans would find themselves nodding in agreement with at least 80% of the ideas I put forth on the program. And yes, I still firmly believe that 100% of Americans should find themselves on board with the entirety of my discourse! But I understand: we've got to start somewhere. And 80% agreement will have to do!
If you've been tuning in to our show for any length of time, you're well aware of one of my major irritations: the way some folks treat political and cultural battles as nothing more than an intellectual exercise. We can't simply engage with these ideas mentally and hope they sprout on their own; we've got to roll up our sleeves and do the hard work required to help these ideas take root in society.
With that thought in mind, let me share a story – a true story that vividly illustrates just how much common ground can be found even among seemingly polarized Americans. It's a personal experience of mine, though I've taken the liberty of shielding the identity of one of the main characters. The reason for that is he is terrified of what his liberal friends may say or do if they know he agrees with me, a lowly conservative.
On June 26, 2020, I received an email that turned out to be quite an entertaining and educational experience. It was from an individual I'll refer to as "Joe." In his message, Joe claimed to be a liberal hailing from Colorado. He had recently lost a bet with two of his conservative buddies, and it was time for him to pay up. As part of his bet-settling, Joe had to shave his head and give it a patriotic makeover with red, white, and blue hues. To add an extra layer of spice, he had to include "Trump 2020" and "MAGA" in his new look.
Joe's friends believed that I would get a kick out of this, and they thought it might be fun to discuss it on the show. I must admit, I approached this with a healthy dose of skepticism. After all, in the world of talk radio, you're bound to encounter some rather peculiar and perhaps fictional stories from time to time.
However, I decided to take the plunge and engage with Joe. This was my email response to him:
“I can only imagine you're a little out of your comfort zone on this - and I admire you for stepping out to fulfill your end of the bargain. While we will certainly have fun with this, I will assure you that we will not seek to humiliate you or shame you! I'm a conservative Christian, and while I do believe in good, old-fashioned fun - we will use this opportunity to hopefully build a bridge between our respective sides of the aisle. And I promise you'll have your dignity intact at the end of this process. Barely! ;)”
After a few email exchanges, Joe and I set up a time to chat. The plan was to delve deeper into his story, engage in some dialogue, and subsequently schedule an interview to air on the program.
And that's exactly what we did. (Well, he did text the morning the interview was set to air and ask that I not air it because he was afraid of the backlash from his liberal friends, but that’s another story!)
Following our conversation, Joe remarked, "Well, that was nothing like what I expected it to be. You treated me in a very Christ-like way. This whole experience has caused me to rethink my worldview – and I'm even considering going back to church."
I was utterly floored.
Why? Because I hadn't consciously set out to persuade or convert Joe. I hadn't sought to debate with him. I hadn't even embarked on a mission to debunk every incorrect assertion and misunderstanding about conservatism that Joe harbored.
Instead, I simply listened. I sought to understand Joe's perspective and establish a genuine human connection. Did I respond to some of his misconceptions? Absolutely. But I did so judiciously, only after earning the right to share my own thoughts and viewpoints.
In our conversations, I often spoke in questions. When discussing politics and worldviews, I steered clear of personalities and labels. When faced with an objection, I chose my responses carefully – sometimes opting not to respond at all.
In essence, I did nothing extraordinary. I just happened to be the one engaging with Joe on the day he began to question the foundation of his Radical Leftist ideology, recognizing it as a morally bankrupt worldview built upon destructive, perilous lies.
The truth is, anyone can learn to become a more persuasive conservative. Through this column, our radio show and podcast, and our soon-to-be-launched ebook, I hope to help you achieve just that.
My friends, the late, great Ronald Reagan once declared, "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."
For this vision to become a reality, we must master the art of persuasion. Whether we like it or not, the responsibility lies squarely on our shoulders. If we are to prevail in the ongoing ideological battle in our nation, we must endeavor to persuade those currently ensnared in the darkness of falsehood to embrace the light of truth.
It begins with a choice, a decision, right here, right now. Are you willing to take that step?
I sincerely hope you are. The future of our great nation may well hinge upon it.
Conservative, not bitter
Todd
