In a recent article for The Lemur, a student-run magazine maintained by Duke’s Transformative Ideas LLC, Sherman Criner (PPS ‘26) shared his thoughts on polarization and compromise throughout American history. Criner argues that modern American leaders have largely abandoned the spirit of compromise, and reviving it is essential to overcoming political division and addressing the nation’s challenges. While the framers of the U.S. Constitution engaged in fierce debates on divisive issues like slavery, today’s political climate is dominated by dogmatism and hyper-polarization. He notes that “the value of compromise lies not in its outcomes but in its process.” While past compromises had significant moral failings, Criner argues, they reflected a commitment to maintaining unity.
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