Resource Round Up: Recognizing Shared Humanity
From Hollywood intimacy coordinators to former politicians to academics, there is an increasing plea for all of us to recognize the shared humanity in everyone
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| Image credit to Consent Wizardry for the above |
...even if its someone with whom you disagree with on major political or moral matters. Here is a round up of a few different perspectives on the matter.
There is no growth, he [Gabor Maté] observes, without emotional vulnerability. While Maté is speaking of individuals, the same also applies to societies. Recognizing our shared existential insecurity, and understanding how it is currently used against us, can be a first step toward creating solidarity.
- from The Age of Insecurity by Astra Taylor
How to see the humanity in anyone by Scott Shigeoka on Psyche
This reel by Jagmeet Singh on Instagram, "Giving Water to Your Enemies: The Story of Bhai Kanhaiya Ji and recognizing our shared humanity"
Also, on November 17th, I had the pleasure of watching a lecture by Daniel Miksha online through the Green College Public Lecture series, "Building Heaven on Earth: Hutterites and Utopian Socialism in North America." In his lecture, Miksha offered three rather unexpected and specific pieces of advice titled, "Advice for the Left", meant for those of us who seek to connect with and recognize the shared humanity of folks who are not on the Left:
1. Speak the language of the working class
2. Improve religious literacy
3. Pick your battles
- from Daniel Miksha's lecture ""Building Heaven on Earth: Hutterites and Utopian Socialism in North America," delivered November 17, 2025, through Green College UBC
At time of posting this, Miksha's lecture is not yet available publicly, however, if Green College does decide to upload it, it will be available on their YouTube channel here.
Update December 2025: I recently read Sarah Smarsh's 2020 essay, "How is Arguing with Trump Voters Working Out for You?" in her 2024 book of essays Bone of the Bone: Essays on America by a Daughter of the Working Class. Smarsh argues for recognizing shared humanity as well in her essay, which, though five years old now, is as relevant as ever"
"You can be intellectually woke without being awakened to the largest truth: that we are all connected, enemies and allies alike. The United States is teetering toward authoritarianism. Are you still lecturing strangers on social media? Are you still shouting at a family member that they’re wrong? How is that working out?
If you want to stop fascism, the efficient mission is not to attack the opposing side. It is, rather, to be the opposite of Donald Trump: a defiantly open heart who protects and bolsters valid information systems required for people to truly decide for themselves about all that he and his movement represent."
- Sarah Smarsh, The Guardian, "How is Arguing with Trump Voters Working out for You?"
Further Reading
ACIP: Resources for having Tough Conversations at Work
Listening versus Persuading: What Listening is Not
