Being a Braver Angel Amid the Politics of Contempt

“Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.” – Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Celebrating their first book event at the Quechee library
September 16, 2026.

This quote by MLK Jr. is as timely now as it was decades ago. Are you upset by current events in our country? Does consuming the news evoke anger and make you want to shut it off? Have your relationships with friends or family been negatively affected by politics? Do you feel helpless to do anything about it?

Since 2017, I’ve volunteered with Braver Angels, a national citizens movement that brings Americans together to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic republic. We envision an America where we embrace rather than avoid political disagreements, recognizing that competing perspectives strengthen our nation. Embracing values of curiosity, humility, honesty, and respect, our goal is not to change people’s views of issues, but to change their views of each other.

Participants from our Sharon VT Braver Angels workshop and book discussion held at Sharon Elementary School on January 17, 2026.

I’ve moderated Braver Angels workshops for community members and for elected officials in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Connecticut. When invited by Doug Teschner, the Braver Angels New England Regional Leader, to co-author Beyond the Politics of Contempt: Practical Steps to build Positive Relationships in Divided Times, I took a leap of faith and said “Absolutely!”

Beth and Doug at Norwich bookstore November 4, 2025.

Since our book was released in September 2025, it’s been an incredible adventure meeting people in Vermont, New Hampshire, and beyond at book events, talking with them about themes affecting our country right now, and offering solutions. I’m immensely grateful to contribute in this way to our culture. Examples of comments I’ve heard (with my suggested responses):

• “I haven’t talked with my sister since the last election. I miss seeing her, and my nephews and nieces. What can I do to repair our relationship?” (Start by letting her know how much you care about her before you venture into politics.)
• “I can’t sleep after watching the evening news.” (As a neurology sleep specialist, counseling people to stop “doomscrolling” before bed has become a routine recommendation that I give patients.)
• “I’m a proud activist speaking up for the injustice I see in our country. How can I talk to ‘those people’ when the world is on fire?” (Engaging with others across differences is how we put the fire out.)

Quechee library crowd January 22, 2026.

There are simple solutions we can do to fix this issue.

Beth and Doug at Quechee library with Michaela,
September 16, 2026.

• Recognize the “conflict entrepreneurs” that stir up anger among us for power or profit (think about those incendiary cable talk show hosts and social media algorithms). Learn how to be more media savvy and stop the cycle of sharing divisive news.
• Get in touch with your values and try to figure out whether you are living them when you encounter people with different political views. Are you kind, treating your friends, family, and neighbors with dignity and respect, even if you don’t agree with them?
• Seek out Braver Angels Training in Courageous Citizenship — remembering that includes listening with curiosity and humility to people who differ politically than us, and speaking out about what we believe (remembering when we listen first, our viewpoints will be more likely to fall on receptive ears, and you might also learn something useful). You can be BOTH an activist and a bridge builder at the same time.
• Join a community organization, a sports team, a musical group, or any other collection of people who are diverse (including politically, if possible). Or work on a local project to help your community. This civic engagement, built into the DNA of New Englanders, fosters trust and makes it easier to talk with anyone about politically charged issues when they arise.

Through these solutions, we can find hope in divided times and be a light for others.

Resources:

Braver Angels: braverangels.org. In addition to local workshops in the Upper Valley, we have many online workshops. All are free. Contact bethmalow@gmail.com for more information.

Beyond the Politics of Contempt website: beyondthepoliticsofcontempt.com has sample chapters, a book discussion guide, author bios, and more.

Free Substack Newsletter, Together Across Differences: togethernow.substack.com