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By one measure, the Coachella Valley is even more politically polarized than California as a whole.

Last year, Joe Biden won over 70% of the vote in three cities here: Coachella, Palm Springs and Cathedral City. That outstrips the 63% he got statewide.

Meanwhile, then-President Donald Trump won just one city in the valley, Indian Wells. He got a hair under 60% there, close to double his 34% across California, according to data compiled by The Press-Enterprise.

You probably know some people coworkers, maybe even family who voted the other way and see a lot of things differently.

But do you ever talk to them about why?

Or do you just stick to the weather, either because you dont want to bother or because youve gotten sick of hitting a brick wall?

#ListenFirst: New virtual event kicks off annual National Week of Conversation

In an effort to bridge that divide through conversation instead of avoidance The Desert Sun and other newspapers in the USA TODAY Network are partnering with the group behind an event called America Talks.

The idea is simple: You answer a few questions about your politics, youre matched up with someone who answereddifferently, then the two of you talk.

The conversations happen next weekend, June 12 and 13.

Pearce Godwin, founder and CEO of the Listen First Project, explained the thinking to USA TODAY: Its easy to sit back and point fingers, to lose hope. What if instead we stepped forward and got real with each other, extending curiosity, good will and grace?

If you sign up as I did at the projects website, AmericaTalks.us, it asks whether you approve of the job Biden is doing as president. From there, it asks about your views on gun control, the minimum wage, immigration, marijuana and whether freedoms of speech and religion are threatened.

After you write brief answers to a couple more questions, it will take all that and match you up with someone to talk with next week.

It might be easier to talk to a stranger about thorny topics than to a friend or relative. Think of it as a warm-up.

Now, its understandable if right about now, youre thinking, I have no interest in speaking with someone who voted for the other guy.

Do you approve or disapprove of the job Joe Biden is doing as President?

But that carries on a vicious circle:Politics is so polarized that people dont talk in any real way, which makes politics more polarized, which...

And the pattern makes you think the worst of people who don't think like you. Someone who doesnt share your view of immigration reform is an inhumane monster. A person who supports government spending you dont is an anti-American socialist.

Sure, in theory, people dont think that way: Godwin cited research showing 79% of Americans believe creating opportunities for conversation among people with differing views and values would be effective to bridge divisions, and two-thirds think the differences between Americans are not so big that we cannot come together.

Answering a survey with such idealism is one thing. But how many of us behave that way?

Talking with someone on the other side of the chasm doesnt mean youre going to decide theyre right. Thats not the point.

The point is to find ways not to assume the worst about our fellow Americans.That can start with a single conversation.

Eric Hartley is The Desert Sun's opinion editor. Email him at eric.hartley@desertsun.com.

Read or Share this story: https://www.desertsun.com/story/opinion/columnists/2021/06/04/america-talks-bridge-political-divide-coachella-valley-across-us/7505069002/

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Column: Bridge the political divide in the valley, nationwide by talking to someone you don't agree with - Desert Sun