- Attend Town Hall Meetings and other public opportunities to speak and speak up! Use respectful language and speak for your values so you'll be heard. Practice what you want to say before the meeting. Go with a buddy to provide moral support.
- Join service, political, and/or social groups and engage in conversation about political policy. Share information or a perspective that supports your position. Be willing to listen to others' perspectives. Open-ended dialog is more likely to provoke thought than an argument that creates defensiveness.
- Practice conversations. Engage in dialogs with progressive friends with one person taking the position of someone with whom you disagree. Discuss what is and what is not effective in creating a conversation that encourages consideration of your point of view.
Write a Letter to the Editor that will prompt thought, reflection, and/or action.- Use short, simple sentences.
- Include how you feel about the issue and what values of yours are at stake.
- Do not question others' motives -- use your facts to make your case.
- Treat those with differing views with respect and without namecalling.
- Suggest an action that you'd like to see taken.
Contact your elected representatives.
- Use respectful language so you'll be heard.
- Ask for the specific action you'd like your representative to take.
- Give appreciation when your representative speaks or votes for your position, as well as when you disagree with her/his position.
