“No sooner do you set foot on American soil than you find yourself in a sort of tumult. A confused clamor rises on every side, and a thousand voices are heard at once, each expressing some social requirements,” observed French political thinker Alexis de Tocqueville after spending about 10 months touring the United States in 1831.
This “confused clamor” description of America could have been written to describe today’s political landscape — and he’d be spot on, nearly 200 years later.
This summer we commemorate the United States’ 250th anniversary and reflect on a history riddled with scientific discoveries, economic upheavals and social justice reforms.
What we share is a conviction that a healthy society requires citizens who know how to disagree constructively and support the rights of others to express their strongly held views — even if they are different.
The American experiment — what it required of generations past and what it requires of us going forward — has continued.
One such requirement that earlier generations of Americans embodied was the ability to build the relationships and civic habits necessary to move through disagreement without giving up on one another or on the country itself.
Tocqueville observed that Americans had an extraordinary habit of forming associations. He noted how they gathered in churches, neighborhoods, civic groups and volunteer organizations to solve problems collectively and strengthen communities. They learned to work with people who saw the world differently than they did. The 1831 Americans exercised the civic muscles of self-government. Those muscles still need exercise today.
In the aftermath of the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk last year, seven Utah-based leaders from a variety of bridge-building and civic engagement organizations came together. We asked ourselves a simple question: How can we help strengthen the civic relationships and habits that allow communities to navigate moments of conflict and division?
Within an hour of the attack, we were working together to offer a collaborative response to support our communities and de-escalate. Within days we had published two public appeals, launched TurnToward.us, and assembled resources from more than a dozen partner organizations for Utahns to gather, learn and engage constructively with one another.
The speed of our response was born of tragic necessity, but it was made possible by relationships built over time. The partnerships, trust and habits of collaboration had already been established. The urgent moment called them into service.
Turn Toward did not emerge from a shared political ideology or a desire to advance a particular policy agenda. The nonpartisan organizations involved have different missions, different constituencies and, at times, different perspectives. What we share is a conviction that a healthy society requires citizens who know how to disagree constructively and support the rights of others to express their strongly held views — even if they are different.
We need not agree on every issue to remember that our neighbors are fellow Americans who deserve respect and belonging.
In the 10 months since its development, Turn Toward has become a civic public square. It serves as a hub connecting Utahns with practical resources, trainings, community conversations and events that foster constructive dialogue and civic participation.
As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, perhaps one of the most patriotic things we can do is strengthen the civic relationships and habits that make healthy democracies possible.
Here are some actions we might take to celebrate the semiquincentennial
Practice civic friendship: Invite neighbors, friends or colleagues to share a meal, attend an America250 event together or simply discuss what they appreciate about their community and country. Our country depends upon relationships. We become more resilient when we know and care about people whose experiences and perspectives differ from our own.
Strengthen our civic muscles: Civic participation is more than voting. Attend a community meeting, participate in a local dialogue, volunteer with a civic organization or learn a new skill for navigating disagreement constructively. The habits of citizenship strengthen with practice.
Celebrate our shared inheritance: America’s story is imperfect and unfinished, and there is still much we can learn. Take time to explore local history, participate in America250 events, visit a historical site or share family stories. Gratitude and honest reflection can coexist.
Invest in the next generation: Talk with children and young adults about what citizenship means and requires. We can share our own experiences participating in democracy. Listen carefully to what they appreciate or are frustrated with.
Protect the dignity of those with whom we disagree: Our own freedoms are strengthened when we protect the rights and participation of others. We need not agree on every issue to remember that our neighbors are fellow Americans who deserve respect and belonging.
Our founders never envisioned a nation of people who always agreed. They created a system of governance that requires ordinary people to learn how to deliberate, cooperate and govern together. Now, 250 years later, that work remains ongoing.
As we celebrate our country’s founding, each of us can overcome the temptation of division and make efforts to turn toward one another “to form a more perfect Union.”