On June 11-13, Let's Talk America and the Democracy In America Project, two dialogue initiatives aimed at healing the left-right divide, co-hosted two dozen thought leaders from across the political spectrum at the Seasons Conference Center at the Fetzer Institute in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to explore the potential to bridge their political differences through dialogue. It worked better than anyone dared hope. Shared concerns and perspectives bubbled up in the space of dialogue that never show their faces in debates. Read two personal accounts here:

http://co-intelligence.org/polarization-Fetzer.html
http://radicalmiddle.com/x_fetzer_conference.htm

On Sunday, June 13, after two and a half days of powerful dialogue the group decided to sign this declaration:

We the people,

gathered at the Season's Converence Center, Kalamazoo, Michigan, June 11-13, 2004, seeking to form a more perfect Union now in 21st Century America, declare:

• We cherish our country and the founding ideals and institutions on which it stands;
  
  
• We respect our differences and recognize America needs every one of our viewpoints, ideas, and passions -- even those we don¹t agree with -- to keep our democracy vital and alive;
  
  
• We recognize that meeting here and across our land for dialogues across differences builds trust, understanding, respect, and empowerment -- the conditions necessary for freedom and democracy to live in us and around us;
  
  
• And, therefore, each still grounded in our own considered views (conscience and convictions), we commit ourselves and our communities of interest to foster dialogue across the many divides in America, in large and small groups, to build trust, insight, and inspired action toward the more perfect union we all desire;
  
  
• And we support the work of Let's Talk America and Democracy in America Project -- and other efforts -- to bring Americans into conversations that are inclusive, non-partisan, respectful and open -- guided by hosts and ground rules that allow all the voices of "We the People" to be heard.

Signed this 13 day of June, 2004:

• Bob Barr, Bob Barr Enterprises, Inc.
• Joseph McCormick, Democracy in America Project
• A. Lawrence Chickering, Project on Community Engagement and Education
• Michael Toms, New Dimensions Foundation
• Susan Partnow, Partnow Communications
• Leif Utne, Utne Magazine
• Carl A. Fillichio, The Council for Excellence in Government
• Thomas F. Beech, Fetzer Institute
• Mark Satin, Radical Middle Newsletter
• Jeffrey B. Peters, We The People
• Joseph Goldman, AmericaSpeaks
• Virginia Sloan, The Constitution Project
• Bill Thomson, Christian Coalition
• Vicki Robin, Conversation Cafes
• David Keene, American Conservative Union
• Laura Chasin, Public Conversations Project
• Mark Gerzon, Mediators Foundation
• Shirley J. Wilcher, Wilcher Global, LLC
• Tom Atlee, Co-Intelligence Institute
• Pat Spino, Democracy in America Project
• Marian S. Moore, Utne Institute/Let's Talk America
• Julie A. Ristau, Utne Institute/Let's Talk America