If you haven’t yet discussed your views on abortion, foreign policy, or health care with others, specifically with those who disagree with you in some way, then you are, in a word, uninformed, regardless of what you’ve read, what you think you know, or how strong your opinions might be. That’s because deliberation (i.e., talking through policy options in a respectful and sincere manner in a space divorced from power dynamics) is a prerequisite for being a knowledgeable citizen.
On Oct. 22, a diverse group of Houstonians gathered at UHD to do just that—deliberate—and discuss the pressing issues at play on the US-Mexico border. The event, organized by UHD's Center for Public Deliberation (CPD) and its Director, Windy Lawrence, brought together local candidates, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members for a candid exchange of ideas.
Participants sat at roundtables, each with a student facilitator, and discussed three
possible approaches toward the
challenges faced at that southern dividing line. The three approaches were developed
by a bi-partisan committee and based on extensive research and community input via
surveys. These approaches included*:
- Humanizing the process: Making it easier for people to obtain citizenship or legal permission to stay in the United States.
- Prioritizing safety: Deterring illegal immigration through enhanced security measures.
- Building decision-making capacity: Developing strategies to address the evolving challenges at the border.
"We need to talk through all sides of an issue and provide reasons for [our] arguments,” said John Rountree, Assistant Professor of Arts and Communication. “Deliberation and taking on another person's perspective are vital if we want our political system to function properly."
The discussion of each topic was timed, and the local candidates (there were 14 present) moved to another table at intervals so as to interact with as many attendees as possible. Co-sponsors included the City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department, emPOWERed Youth, Texas Conservative Liberty Forum, the Center for Latino Studies, and UHD’s Student Government Assosciation.
As one might expect, events such as this are invaluable contributions on the part of the CPD, and create spaces for students and community members to share their concerns, learn from others, and contribute to finding solutions to complex issues. As one participant said, "It's important to have these kinds of conversations. They bridge the divide and help us all find common ground."
*These are condensed versions of the approaches. You can download the in-depth explanation of each here.