Sara Brookhyser
Aug 8, 2017 · 1 min read

I 100% agree that the author of the manifesto is speaking from profoundly sexist and racist assumptions and deplore his message. And it should be named for what it is in no uncertain terms. And I love the call to walk the talk of diverstiy and inclusion AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS if we ever intend to change our culture. But we miss an opportunity for enlightenment when we simply shame the speaker. People who spend that much effort outlining a position, really believe it. Beliefs are not undone by a twitter-slam, or a blog post. I haven’t seen yet a call to meet face to face and have the open discussion he has said is necessary. The question is, is he really open to that: to listening respectfully to how his words land for others, to responding politely to requests for documentation for his assertions, and are we willing to listen to anything he has to say about his experience? We will never get to common ground or mutual understanding if our strongest response to disagreement is I’m-right-you’re-wrong. Go-to-jail-do-not-pass-Go-do-not-collect-$100. So how do we approach this conversation in a way that might produce change?