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Speak american final 3 - copy.pptx 3.0
- 1. “Speaking American” Can Help Save America How
- 8. Practical Can Do Try New Things
- 10. Use the Language of Our Common American Values
- 12. Make Our Action Words Specific, Practical and Positive
- 14. Practical Can Do Try New Things
Editor's Notes
- You are probably wondering what I think we need to save America from. We have so many problems these days! Many Americans say they feel our country is on the wrong track. But there is one problem that makes all of the others seem impossible to solve. (That’ s the idea... )
- 2. It’s the idea that we are too divided to work together to solve any of our problems. There’s a lot of talk in the media today about how much more partisan everything is nowadays and how people can’t agree on anything anymore. We see it in D.C. and among politicians and others who may benefit by telling us this story. (Yet that divide vanishes. . . ) Yet that divide vanishes at the deepest level of our being as a people. We Americans still share many common values, despite what we hear in the media about our being so divided. (For example. . .)
- 3. For example, we all believe in the value of liberty or freedom. And I know, based on all of my work since the late 1990’s, that using the language of common American values like liberty or freedom can help. Today it’s even more true: we the people can heal our divide by talking about our shared values. I call that “speaking American.” 5. So what is “speaking American” anyway? 6. Now if you ever watched the PBS program “Do You Speak American?,” you know there is enormous diversity in our American version of English—we have many local “dialects.”
- 4. For example, in some parts of our country a frying pan is called a skillet, a teeter totter goes by the name seesaw, and a bucket is a pail. But we all know the language of our common American dreams and values.
- 5. It comes from our founding documents, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and important events in our history. It includes words, metaphors, and phrases that tell an ideal American identity story, a story about who we are when we are at our best.
- For example, we all believe in freedom, equal opportunity, democracy, and fairness.
- Slide 7. We all want our communities to be clean, safe, and secure.
- We see ourselves as a practical, “can do,” people, and we like to try new things. So when I talk about “speaking American,” that’s the kind of ideal language I mean. And I also know that ordinary people can do something about that “divide” the media talks about so much.
- For those of you who have trouble believing this, let me give you an example. There ‘s a new group called Living Room Conversations. The people who started it realized that if they could bring people together for private conversations in a comfortable living room in someone’s home, it might help. The founders of the Living Room Conversations Project created a safe, structured process that helps guide conversation. Participants are able to discuss a wide range of subjects in constructive ways. People have found common ground by really listening to each other’s viewpoint and experience. Being respectful about the language they use is a big part of the project’s success too. People who have tried Living Room Conversations are very enthusiastic about it—everyone from a conservative Tea Party leader to a leader of independent voters agree that it’s the kind of conversation our country really needs. Even if you can’t set up a Living Room conversation yourself anytime soon, there are two things you can do, wherever you are, to help heal our sense of being a people divided.
- 10. First, use the language of our common American dreams and values to talk about things that concern you. I know from my research that when participants do find common ground, it’s because they were talking about our common values as a people.
- 11.
- 12. Second, think carefully about all the words you use. The actual words you use can make a big difference. Words that are too general and vague cause trouble. Action Words that are specific, practical and positive get good results.
- 13. Now Here’s a specific example of what I mean about general versus specific language. Let’s look at the contrast between the word “regulations” and the word “rules.” Often if people are asked if they think we need more government regulations, they’ll say no. stop here! But if you ask them if we need rules about using safety belts or other specific things that we need to protect ourselves, they will say we certainly do need those rules. 13. What’s the difference? Well, “Regulations” is a very abstract, general, and vague word that sounds kind of scary. “Rules” is a specific word that evokes two important, positive American ideas: the thought that good rules protect us all from harm , and fairness, the idea that everyone should” play by the rules,” a classic American cultural sports metaphor, another way of talking about the great American idea of rule of law, where no one is above the law, no matter how rich or powerful. [if time permits, use example #2: infrastructure vs. roads and bridges) (So if we use 1 & 2. . ., we Americans can agree. . .)
- So If we use words that remind us of our common values, and we choose positive ACTION words that are specific about practical new solutions, we Americans can agree on ways to solve our problems again. (We can get our country back on the right track again….
- 15. We can get our country back on the right track, together again. 16. This is one way we can help get America back on the right track. But what if you live somewhere else? No matter where you are, you can follow the this same process. Ask yourself: what are your nation’s common values? And how would you talk about practical problem solving where you live?