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Hyper-partisan election shows we could use “ambassadors for civility”

In five days, Americans will vote.

The deep distrust and dislike so many people feel for both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump has led to an exceptionally bitter campaign where political dialogue has all too often devolved into shouting profanities at each other.

Julie Winokur is a filmmaker who hopes to provide an antidote to political ranting. Her project and documentary Bring It To The Table is helping people stop bickering about politics. She is in Ann Arbor today to screen her film and to get people talking.
The film was born out of a conversation she had with her teenage son. He called her out for what he called her lack of political tolerance. The line that launched this project was when he added, "if the other side had a good idea, you wouldn't know it because you weren't listening."

Winokur says in this digital age we live in, our political discourse has devolved into people (often on social media) talking at each other rather than talking with each other when it comes to politics. 

Listen to the full interview above to hear more about the film and Winokur's advice on how everyday people can bridge the hyper-partisan divide by becoming "ambassadors for civility."

Watch the trailer for the film below

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Support for arts and culture coverage comes in part from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

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