Article December 17, 2018 Issue

How about purple—a blending of red and blue?

Ellen J. Wolf

Originally published in The Christian Science Monitor’s Christian Science Perspective column, August 30, 2018.

With public opinion battles throughout the world seeming to get louder and louder, could a more constructive discourse still emerge? In the United States, where I live, the two major political parties are often identified by color: blue for one party and red for another. Amid the current acrimonious political climate, I have been, metaphorically, thinking purple. Yes, a rich, deep purple, the harmonious blending of red and blue that represents to me the idea of more productive conversations on important issues.

In my small circles, I am grateful to be seeing patches of purple appearing as fractured divides unify. Measures of humility and hope and even signs of peace and assurance are surfacing as harsh judgment is silenced. Rivalry is being replaced with collaboration, yielding better results. That’s purple for you!

To illustrate, I was connected to a group where for many years strong opinions created dysfunction. Criticism on each side obscured the good intentions of both sides, which generated ill will and defensiveness. It was terribly unpleasant and counterproductive, and it was easy to get pulled in.

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