Last week, in a post about preliminary census results, I couldn’t resist a plug for the democracy envisioned by the founders of the United States.  May I say that neither history nor government was my strong suit in school?  Yet the more I learn, the more struck I am by the foresight of this country’s founders, by an inclusive vision and a wisdom that transcend the culture of their times – and ours.

Two days after that post, Arizona Congressional Representative Gabrielle Giffords was shot through the head at an open meeting with her constituents. Six people died in the rampage. Thirteen others were wounded.

If you don’t know who these people are by now, ask yourself: why not?  Then learn something about them, these U.S. citizens exercising their rights of assembly and free speech.  Learn something about who they were/are as people, what they believe(d) and why they were there.

Our stunned nation had a few hours of somber reflection. Then came the tornadic spin on violent political rhetoric, the role of the media, the death of democracy, gun control, freedom of speech and who was to blame.

It seems that this shooting was the work of one enraged mind.  Yet, the questions remain:   What sets off that kind of fury? What is the role of biology?  Of environment?  Can any sense be made of this? And what are the responsibilities and the capabilities of a democracy to simultaneously protect the rights of individuals, honor differences among groups and safeguard the interests of shared society?

There are no simple answers. But one thing is certain: no one person or group has THE answers.

For any useful answers, we will have to grapple with complexity for more than a few hours. We’ll have to deal with diverse attitudes, backgrounds and beliefs – and with the hotly held opinions and deep feelings that live right next to all our hearts.

Politics in the Workplace

There’s a generally observed prohibition against talking about politics in the workplace. Yet people bring politics to the workplace like they bring any other identity.  Complex ideas, hot opinions and deep feelings affect how people serve, lead and work together in any organization.

Politics affect diversity practices and political diversity presents both challenges and opportunities similar to many of the more commonly understood diversity dimensions.

Inclusive organizational practices may offer ways to begin thinking about the questions that plague our companies and communities with increasing urgency. These practices, after all, begin with clear ground rules and shared understandings; in other words, with agreements about creating a safe space for bringing differences together in service of common goals.

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