250 Forward

This fall of 2026 has featured some wonderful events that are still inspiring. They follow the glow cast by this summer’s celebrations of America’s 250th Anniversary and fit into the stream of thought about the importance of conversation (with a capital “C'“). It is as though America has had a history of one very long conversation about big ideas - who we are, what we want to be like, and how can we hold onto the things that are really important to us. From our birth during the Revolution at Lexington and Concord (MA), through the Declaration of Independence, and onto the adoption of our American Constitution (it’s a really short document - have you read it?) there had to be a lot of communication. There had to be a lot of conversation and agreement reached between people who did not think alike and who in many cases did not like each other. (Look at the rosey paintings of our founders with a grain of salt.) Yet somehow, they came to Agree…to Agree. That has worked to our advantage.

It is what we still must do in our communities to grow, feel safe and secure, and even prosper. As was said at the end of World War II after so much pain, loss, death and destruction, we have to re learn the science of getting along with each other (FDR).

We can start by talking, not shouting and attacking, talking to get to know each other and our deeply felt values and needs. We have to start by listening carefully when someone is speaking so we learn from them, to understand what they need and value. They have to listen to us about those things when it is our turn. We have to find ways to communicate better - more kindly - so we feel safe and respected. You might call these civility or civic virtue.

This is what I meant at the top of this post about the importance of conversation. It’s been a subject of quite a few glamorous events this fall - in person and online. Successful, well-known people like journalist David Brooks, retired federal judge and former US Senate Legal Counsel, Thomas Griffith, Princeton University Professor Robbie George, authors Walter Issacson, David Baldacci and others. It’s the subject of shows and discussions on TV (you might try the TV documentary, Bucks County (PA)) and of writings about how to communicate. We are taking another look at Supercommunicators, How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection, by Charles Duhigg; at High Conflict, How We Get Trapped and How We Get Out by Amanda Ripley; at Building Bridges (basic materials for school and adult-age curricula about dealing with conflict). We (a small group of Virginia leaders from law, academia, education, other professions) are having conversation about how we can jump start good conversations in Virginia about civic issues and the Rule of Law.

lt has been a fall of unexpected, good conversations with people I’ve not had real conversations with before - a fall of experiencing new connections. Good learning.

This kind of experience, work, study is grassroots - from bottom up. We speak of the role of good leadership and it is necessary. Truly, for us to bask in the glow America’s 250th and keep it going, it is a matter of bottom up. We the People…Maybe that is what FDR meant when he supposedly said, “I must see where my people are going - so I can lead them there.”

I wish you good conversations and good learning.

n lead them there.”

It is what we still must do in our communities to grow, have stability and even prosper. As was said at the end of World War II after so much pain, loss, death and destruction, we have to relearn the science of getting along with each other (FDR).