Opening up to exchange of views to overcome polarization
November 8, 2018
Today, we have one more reason to relaunch our project. In the era of polarization, the reason lies precisely in our need to be open to the thoughts of others and to listen more closely to those who do not think like us.
Laurene Powell Jobs, founder of Emerson Collective, publisher of The Atlantic (and widow of Steve Jobs, founder of Apple), was in Florence as a guest of the Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Editori and its President, Andrea Ceccherini. Here is an excerpt from the welcome speech with which Mr. Ceccherini opened the nineteenth edition of the "Quality information in the classroom" and warned against polarization as a risk to democracy.
"Today, I believe that we have one more reason to relaunch our project, and, in the era of polarization, the reason lies precisely in the need we have and we all feel to be more open to the opinions of others, to try and listen more closely to those who do not think like us, to prevent polarization from dividing us by putting at risk the most significant heritage that our societies have been able to build: democracy.
This is also a great democratic exercise because there is no growth where there is affront. We grow by listening, and it is fundamental to be aware that in order to grow, it is necessary to open up, not to close down. That's why opening up to the opinions of others is a way to delve deeper into issues and to start a truly democratic exercise: citizenship."
