Majority in the Middle

The article discusses Thomas Jefferson's Quran, highlighting his intellectual curiosity about different religions and the historical inclusion of Muslims in America's religious liberty narrative. It contrasts this with current political hostility toward Islam, including Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith's derogatory remarks about Islam and a recent hate crime at a San Diego mosque.

The article discusses differing risk assessments between individuals, illustrated by a 2008 encounter in Kabul between the author and a security guard. It references research in 'Predisposed' by political scientists John R. Alford, John R. Hibbing, and Kevin B. Smith, which suggests liberals and conservatives have biologically distinct responses to stimuli. The author argues that these differences do not doom disagreement, as humans evolved to communicate and cooperate.

Melissa Hortman, as Minnesota House speaker, initiated weekly meetings with Lisa Demuth, the minority leader, despite their disagreements on policies like immigration and taxation. Their sustained contact, maintained over years, is highlighted as a model for bridging political divides. The article emphasizes the importance of deliberate, non-performative human connection in resolving conflicts.