You’re dining with a family member that you always disagree with on politics. They throw out an opinion, and all of a sudden you’re in a full-fledged heated debate, Trump-Harris style. It’s discouraging, but it’s nothing new in an age of division that is just as palpable within our own families as it is in Congress.

Why is it so hard to talk to people we love about issues upon which we disagree? In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, psychologist Jeanne Safer pointed out that it’s our psychological differences that bother us.

“We have a fantasy that people who are our intimates are going to be like us in every fundamental way. We wonder: How can somebody important to me not see what I see?”

In order to improve these conversations, we can start by looking for lower-stakes opportunities for conversation. By saving the more controversial topics for people that aren’t as central to our lives, we can avoid jeopardizing important relationships.

Next, we must reframe these conversations for learning, with your one goal being to understand the opposing beliefs. This can transform grounds for war into fertile ground for empathy. Importantly, once you have more knowledge about why these beliefs exist, you can use it to better understand your loved ones.

The echo chambers in which we reside perpetuate a dangerous intolerance for the other side — but as college students, we have an opportunity to escape them.

Unlike our hometowns in which we are insulated by similar beliefs, college provides the opportunity to meet, talk to and befriend people that challenge us and offer low-stakes opportunities to discuss different ideologies. It’s a place to practice being quick to ask questions, and slow to argue.

Undoubtedly, some of my political conversations at college have been frustrating. But since I’ve started implementing these strategies, these discussions have become more enlightening than destructive. They have helped me learn how to prioritize curiosity over being right.

In her 2017 book “Braving the Wilderness,” author Brené Brown famously suggested the idea, “People are hard to hate close up. Move in.”

During our four precious years of growth and socialization, let’s move into curiosity. Let’s move into empathy. Let’s move into relationships that challenge our beliefs to decentralize political ideologies from our love for others, so that we as young people may dream of a future wherein we are marching toward change together.

Audrey Enghauser is a communication studies major and poverty studies minor at Furman University, and editor-in-chief of the university’s student newspaper, The Paladin.

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Infrastructure is more than fixing pot holes and malfunctioning traffic signals, but it also has to do with making a place more accessible for everyone.

In addition to traffic issues there are other challenges. Many people are being left behind, and are not able to stay in their homes are find affordable housing, and in some cases have lost their businesses.  There also is increasing inequality. Part of having a good foundation is having a healthy, educated workforce. This state needs to do a much better job lifting residents out of poverty, so that they are able to take advantage of new opportunities.

Smart growth is also about preserving historical relics in the upstate. A city is made up of the generations who have worked, built things and lived here. The heartbeat of a city is about history, culture, natural resources. It’s not about more buildings and developments.

Change is difficult, urban planning is complex, but with the right leadership, the Upstate can create a foundation to support all ambitious projects. That is why we need new local representatives to help build a foundation and create an Upstate where everyone can thrive.

Meta M. Griffin
Spartanburg

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As a local child care center owner and Save the Children Action Network advocate, I see how essential child care is for children’s development and for working parents. Affordable, quality child care enables parents to maintain employment and support the state’s economy. Without it, families face tough choices that can harm their financial stability.

South Carolina urgently needs more investment in child care infrastructure, including expanded subsidies, improved care quality, and better training and compensation for providers. These steps will create a more equitable system for all families, regardless of socioeconomic status.

I urge policymakers to recognize the vital role of accessible, high-quality child care in our children’s well-being and the state’s prosperity. Let’s work together to ensure every child in South Carolina can thrive.

Mia Gentry
Boiling Springs

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It would reduce lanes on both sides to make room for landscaped medians, protected bike lanes and wider sidewalks. Facebook comments under numerous articles reporting on the plan were largely unsupportive of the project for various reasons, but two of those reasons in particular struck me as interesting.

One reader commented that the proposed changes to Wade Hampton were representative of planners wanting to make Greenville “a big city.” Another commenter, however, suggested that the plan would make sense in a small town that wants to remain a small town, but not in a growing area like Greenville.

Whether lane reductions and bike lanes make more sense in small towns or big cities, it’s clear that not everyone wants them here. But that kind of thinking is common across the country. Changes to infrastructure always seem like they would be a good idea in other places, but for some reason we never think they’ll work right here in our backyard.

The truth is, as decades of studies have shown, these kinds of changes are effective everywhere. Greenville is no different. Narrowing roads and allowing for alternative modes of transportation reduces congestion and improves safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists alike. Plans like the Wade Hampton overhaul work in both big cities and small towns, but where they’re most important is in places like Greenville that are experiencing rapid growth — growth that’s going to continue whether we like it or not.

Brett Williams

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Nurses deserve protection from verbal, physical threats

I knew at age 8 that I wanted to go into health care. My first job in a hospital was as an operating room technician, and seeing what nurses were able to do in the trauma unit was the “light bulb” moment for me. I’ve now been a nurse for the last 20 years, working as everything from a fledgling nurse on a hospital intensive care unit to the chief nursing executive for Prisma Health in the Upstate.

Patients trust us in their darkest hours to be a beacon of light, hope and inspiration. But nurses are coming under more and more stress, sometimes choosing to leave the field altogether, because of increased levels of workplace violence nationwide.

Assaults on health care workers, whether verbal or physical, contribute to workforce burnout and turnover. They can interfere with patient care. Violence against health care workers is so serious that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers it a public health concern.

Hospitals are places where we experience life, loss, joy and pain. Some patients and loved ones can become overwhelmed and physically lash out; drugs or mental illness can make that tipping point come even quicker and be more devastating for everyone involved.

Hospitals are working to harden facilities, enhance security and increase reporting of incidents, but we need the public’s help. We need to create greater awareness of the impact abusive behavior can have – not only on our nurses but for patients and even the cost of care.

The South Carolina Hospital Association is leading efforts to address the problem by advocating for support to enhance hospital safety and security and providing resources that hospitals can use to deter aggressive behaviors by patients and visitors. It’s also partnering with state law enforcement to increase timely prosecution of complaints.

Our nurses are someone’s mother or father, best friend, and neighbor. They may be the person who saves your life, or comforts you when another life is lost. Every day they go to work, nurses make a commitment to “zero harm.” Particularly during National Nurses Week, let’s make that same commitment to them.

Michael Cavacos
Chief Nursing Executive, Prisma Health in the Upstate

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Nurses share common goal: great patient care

It’s National Nurses Week, a special time to celebrate the importance of nurses in the South Carolina healthcare system. Millions of patients across our state depend on the compassionate care and exceptional capabilities of registered nurses (RNs) for their health and well-being.

As anesthesia experts, South Carolina’s more than 1,400 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are proud to work alongside our nurse colleagues to keep patients comfortable and safe during surgery, labor and delivery, trauma stabilization, and other types of procedures that require anesthesia. Throughout the day, our role may intersect with the roles of operating room nurses, circulating nurses, scrub nurses, post anesthesia care unit nurses, recovery room nurses, intensive care unit nurses, emergency room nurses.

All share the common goal of providing watchful care to our patients during the most vulnerable times of their lives. Is it any wonder that, once again, the results of an annual Gallup Poll showed that Americans gave nurses the highest ethics rating for the 24th consecutive year?

For all of us who comprise the community of nurses, patient care is more than a livelihood, it’s an honor and privilege. Happy National Nurses Week!

Cheryl L. Schosky
President, S.C. Association of Nurse Anesthetists

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As board members of the American Heart Association Upstate, we are writing to urge our community to take action on a critical issue affecting the health and safety of our students.

The post Letter to the editor: Smart Heart Act needs help to save student lives appeared first on GREENVILLE JOURNAL.

I recently discovered that the Simpsonville City Council will vote on Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m. to save or discontinue the Greenlink Simpsonville Connector bus service (route 601).

Discontinuing this service would pose a significant hardship to my son. Every weekday morning, my son uses the Simpsonville Connector to get to work at Vocational Rehabilitation in Greenville. Vocational Rehab is a place that trains and prepares people with disabilities to enter the regular workforce. If he can’t get here to participate in this program, he may never learn the necessary skills to hold down a regular job.

If the bus service stops in Simpsonville, it will be a disservice to my son and many people like him who depend on public transportation. I hope the Simpsonville City Council chooses votes to save this vital service.

Ragan Besendorfer
Simpsonville resident

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The scientific evidence is clear: There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

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Unfortunately, I’m afraid it’s too little too late. Many exit ramps have been built with too few lanes and insufficient length to accommodate the traffic at peak rush hour, creating massive backups on the highways putting people in danger.

The northbound exit at Pelham Road is particularly troublesome. There is a clear need for three exit lanes to get the traffic off the highway which could be accomplished by widening the exit a few hundred yards. I initially contacted the South Carolina Department of Transportation more than four years ago and have checked in periodically, hoping this could be done during the $27 million dollar, four-plus year Rocky Creek project. There is still no formal plan or funds approved to do so despite the fact there have been more than a dozen accidents at the Pelham Road exits since just Nov. 1 according to the SCDOT’s own X (formerly Twitter) page.

This shows the agency is either complicit or inept. I’m not sure which is worse.

Brian Remsberg
Greenville

The post Letter to the editor: I-85 work is overdue, insufficient appeared first on GREENVILLE JOURNAL.

For those of us who grew up here, spent some time away, then returned, we’re often sharing with new Greenville residents how much the Greenville of today is dramatically better than the Greenville of yesteryear.

It didn’t happen overnight. It happened with strong leadership over many years.

The South is the fastest growing region of the country, and our city is not exempt. A lot of this growth is a result of the positive business and economic climate in the area. The Upstate is now home to 575 international companies representing 37 countries, creating new job opportunities for our residents.

Greenville’s leaders, led by Mayor White, have taken proper growth steps that have resulted in a high quality of life and the perfect place to live and raise our kids.

We shouldn’t forget how far we’ve progressed as a city thanks to long-term, strategic and smart leadership by Mayor White. He deserves a final term.

Jeremy Tolbert
Greenville resident

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I appreciate very much the citizens of our community giving me the opportunity to serve first on Greenville County Council for 15 years and then as clerk of court for the last 23 years. What a special opportunity I have had to work with people across the county in special-purpose and tax districts, municipalities, as well as county government. We are fortunate to have great people in public service, many of whom I have been able to work with and have gotten to know personally.

I believe our community is what it is today because of men and women that have answered the call to public service. I have been so blessed over the years to have had a seat and witness people working together for the common good of our community. Many areas of the country would love to have what we have here in Greenville, South Carolina.

As I retire, I am looking forward to seeing what the future holds. I have a grateful heart for the time that I was given to serve.

Paul B. Wickensimer

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First, when have you ever heard of reducing a six-lane highway in a growing community to a four-lane highway that made things better? Adding greenery to the center of the highway will just make it harder to see where you need to turn, will make left turns more difficult and will cost a considerable amount of money to maintain.

Rather than spending millions to “improve” a highway that does not need improving, spend it on some of the deplorable roads in Greenville County that are full of ruts, potholes and “repaired” utility holes.

Those who want to spend taxpayer dollars on a Wade Hampton Boulevard overhaul need to drive (not ride in a limo) around Greenville County’s roads and then, with a clear conscience, spend millions of our tax dollars on something that does not need fixing.

John Zelahy
Greer

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What people may not realize is that graduates of the Culinary Institute of the Carolinas are among the employees who make sure these establishments are flourishing. Our graduates are often found in management positions, running restaurants, creating new dishes, developing food and wine programs, and many other roles. In fact, the head chef of Scoundrel, the beverage director of Topsoil, and the owner/executive chef of White Wine and Butter are all products of Greenville Technical College.

In my role as department head for the Culinary Institute of the Carolinas at Greenville Technical College, I am able to see students go from dreams to reality. I love being part of that transition as they gain the skills that allow them to work in a field that draws so many visitors to this area. It’s wonderful to see our graduates finding the same satisfaction I have realized in being part of making memories. With this being National Culinary Arts Month, that’s a lot to celebrate!

Kristen Grissom
Department head for Greenville Technical College’s Culinary Institute of the Carolinas

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Brain disorders, like bipolar disorder or anxiety, affect the brain’s messaging system — which in turn affects behavior. Most of these illnesses strike in adolescence — making school, work and sometimes even daily tasks difficult or almost impossible. Twenty-five percent of mental illness begins by age 14, 75% by age 24. These illnesses are really a young person’s disease — but we don’t think about them that way because the average time between the onset of symptoms and when people seek treatment is 11 years. Why? 

The answer is stigma. Can you imagine blaming someone for getting cancer or kidney disease? We don’t blame those with Alzheimer’s or heart disease for their illness, yet there is a great deal of blame, shame and fear surrounding diseases like depression and schizophrenia. No one asks for mental illness and it isn’t caused by something that you do. You just get sick. Early detection and treatment are key parts of recovery. 

Of 50 states, South Carolina ranks 44th in terms of access to mental health care. Many counties do not have even a single psychiatrist. Even in Greenville, getting help is often difficult. 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. One of the strongest advocates for helping those who live with brain disorders and their families is NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. NAMI Greenville’s mission is to support, educate and advocate — and to end the stigma of having a mental illness. The brain-body connection is undeniable — and our health care system should reflect that truth. 

If you have a friend or family member who is struggling with a brain disorder, don’t give up! Don’t hide it or be ashamed of what you are going through. That plays into stigma and only strengthens it. Reach out to NAMI Greenville and you will find resources and learn that you are not alone.

Show your support for mental health on May 20 at NAMIWalks Upstate. NAMI Greenville and other NAMI affiliates will walk to celebrate the power of the human spirit and the need for change.

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As president and CEO of Urban League of the Upstate, it is my priority to advocate for resources and tools needed for Black and other underserved communities to succeed in South Carolina. However, our leaders in Congress are not looking at their anti-innovation legislation with a critical lens. Laws under consideration, such as the American Innovation and Choice Online Act, are disguised to support consumers, when they really take away opportunities from small businesses. Passage of this bill in its current state would disincentivize large tech platforms from providing small businesses access to a large consumer base, leaving them less profitable. 

As the sector expands in our state, there are more job opportunities, allowing the promotion of equitable opportunities and lead diversification in tech across the nation. Technology also supports economic stability and education by providing students with the opportunity to work in a high-paying sector out of college. By empowering South Carolina’s underserved communities, we are contributing to real positive change that will have long-lasting impacts on the lives of our residents alongside strengthening our state’s economy and presence in the tech sector.

As tech companies continue to grow, states like South Carolina should be at the forefront of advancing equity. Restrictive policies not only risk the global advantage the U.S. has in technological innovation, but they also risk undermining vital equitable opportunities and diversification efforts that are afforded to underserved youth, a consequence that is especially detrimental when considering tech’s ability to empower disadvantaged communities. Our leaders must consider the potential harm of anticompetitive proposals, particularly as they relate to innovation, economy, diversification, and equitable opportunity. South Carolina has been presented an opportunity to create a more equitable state, which should not be ignored. 

Dr. Gail Wilson Awan is an author and the president and chief executive officer of Urban League of The Upstate, a nonprofit organization that provides education, employment and housing services for economically disadvantaged Upstate communities. 

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