I’m sharing this here because although this project focuses on US politics, I feel like US politics eventually bleeds into Canadian politics, so I think it’s worth supporting impactful projects that may make a positive difference.
The Enemies Project helps “enemies” discover the human being in each other.
In each episode, the Enemies Project documentary pairs two people with fiercely opposing worldviews. Intense conflict, yes. But the Enemies Project is neither gotcha TV nor political debate. The purpose is for “enemies” to find the humanity in the other — because in a warring world, understanding is rebellion.
Episodes are hosted by renowned Peacemaker Larry Rosen.
They’re running a Kickstarter Campaign here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/larryrosen/enemies-project-a-docuseries-where-enemies-become-human
Episodes Released So Far:
- Transgender — A transgender woman and a MAGA mom move from outright hostility to deep tenderness
- Abortion — A pro-choice woman and a pro-life man confront the fact that their enemy is deeply, beautifully human.
- A Palestinian and a Jew — A Palestinian American and a Hasidic Jew sit together in the aftermath of October 7, confronting grief, pain, and shared suffering
- Two Jews — A Zionist and an anti-Zionist Jew wrestle with betrayal, loyalty, and the pull of reconciliation within their own community
- Do Kids Need a Dad? A Lesbian and a Fatherhood Purist — A lesbian mom and a man who believes gay people should not have children find respect and warmth
- Dictatorship Under Trump: A Proud Boy and a Progressive — Each fears dictatorship in America, but from opposite sides of the political spectrum
- Dictatorship Under Biden: A Proud Boy and a Progressive — The mirror-image conversation, revealing how fear of tyranny shapes both left and right
Coming Episodes — What You’re Enabling:
- Guns — Two Traumatized Women Divided by Ideology
- Immigration — A White MAGA Teen and a Mexican American Dad
- Police Use of Force — A Cop and an Abolitionist
- Falling from Christianity — A Gay Man and a Preacher
- Falling from Islam — A Tech CEO and a Muslim Mama
- Race in the U.S. [participants being interviewed now]
Other Episodes in the works: Russia/Ukraine, India/Pakistan, Falling from Mormonism.
This… is quite amazing, really, I would love to see much MUCH more of this, and this should be broadcasted everywhere. I want to see EVERY lemming actually talk and listen to a Maga (and obviously the reverse)
I think of everything going on, the biggest problem is the division that Trump has sown over the years, this could fix that.
Yeah, I agree it could be a transformative method. It looks like their kickstarter will probably succeed, but the response hasn’t been super enthusiastic, at least here on Lemmy. I don’t think this technique is a panacea – it’s just one of the avenues that ought to be explored, but my sense is that these kinds of conversations require deliberate and sustained effort, and it seems like most people are not interested in even sitting down to watch an episode. Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m a little less hopeful after trying to promote their kickstarter.