Why the World Needs More Builders — and Less “Us vs. Them” | Daniel Lubetzky | TED

Summary

The speaker addresses the pervasive divisiveness in society, emphasizing that issues are often wrongly framed as 'us versus them.' He argues for a shift towards 'all of us versus extremism,' promoting unity and cooperation to solve problems. Highlighting initiatives like PeaceWorks and Builders Media, he advocates for a builder's mindset characterized by curiosity, compassion, creativity, and courage. The speaker shares personal stories, including his father's Holocaust survival, to illustrate the power of kindness and humanity in overcoming hate. He calls for action, urging people to become proactive builders to prevent history's darkest chapters from repeating.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The world is increasingly divided into binary oppositions, leading to a rise in hate and dehumanization.
• 🔍 People often fail to recognize the problem of division within their own groups, only seeing it in others.
• 🤝 The speaker advocates for reframing issues from 'us versus them' to 'all of us versus extremism', emphasizing the majority's non-hateful stance.
• 💡 The enemy is identified as a mindset of extremism, not individuals, which allows for a broader perspective on problem-solving.
• 🏗️ The speaker differentiates between 'builders' who unite and create, and 'destroyers' who divide and demolish, urging for more action from moderates.
• 🌱 The importance of building a community of 'builders' is highlighted, with the speaker's own experience founding Kind as an example.
• 🕊️ PeaceWorks, a project initiated by the speaker, aimed to foster cooperation among conflicting groups in the Middle East through economic relationships.
• 🌟 The speaker's mission is to create a global platform that promotes the identity of 'builders' and equips citizens with the tools to counteract extremism.
• 📊 'Citizen Solutions' is an initiative that seeks to replace political stagnation with constructive proposals from engaged citizens, revealing hidden consensus on divisive issues.
• 📚 The need for a builder's mindset with curiosity, compassion, creativity, and courage is emphasized to drive societal change.
• 🛠️ A builder's toolkit is being developed to empower individuals to bring change to their communities and foster respectful debate over cancel culture.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the transcript?

The main issue discussed is the division and polarization in society, where people are categorized into 'us versus them' groups, leading to an increase in hate and dehumanization.

How does the speaker describe the current state of society's approach to issues?

The speaker describes society's approach as binary, where every issue is seen as a conflict between two opposing sides, and communities are increasingly affected by hate and dehumanization.

What is the speaker's background, and how does it influence his perspective?

The speaker identifies himself as a 'confused Mexican Jew' with a lot of Latin Yiddish passion. His background, including being a founder of Kind, the healthy snack company, influences his perspective on unity and cooperation.

What is the speaker's proposed alternative to the 'us versus them' mentality?

The speaker proposes an 'all of us versus extremism' mentality, suggesting that the majority of people on all sides of any issue are not hateful and can work together against those who fall prey to extremist thinking.

What is the speaker's view on the role of extremists in society?

The speaker views extremists as a destructive force that hijacks the agenda and our lives, promoting division and preventing the advancement of constructive solutions.

What is the difference between 'destroyers' and 'builders' according to the speaker?

According to the speaker, 'destroyers' are individuals with extremist views who take action to divide and demolish, while 'builders' are those who take action to unite, create, and bring light to the world.

What was the purpose behind the creation of the Kind snack company?

The Kind snack company was created as part of an idea to use free market forces to foster cooperation among neighbors in conflict regions, promoting peace and understanding through economic relationships.

What is the 'Builders Media' initiative mentioned in the transcript?

Builders Media is an initiative that produces content in multiple languages to strengthen how people think and navigate differences, rather than telling them what to think.

Can you explain the 'Citizen Solutions' initiative and its impact?

Citizen Solutions is an initiative that brings together local citizens with diverse viewpoints to forge constructive proposals on seemingly intractable issues. It aims to reveal hidden consensus and propel elected representatives to follow the will of the people.

What are the 'four Cs of a builder's mindset' as mentioned by the speaker?

The 'four Cs of a builder's mindset' are curiosity, compassion, creativity, and courage, which are essential for approaching conversations and problem-solving with a builder's perspective.

What personal motivation does the speaker have for his work in fostering unity and fighting extremism?

The speaker's personal motivation stems from his father being a Holocaust survivor. The speaker is driven by the promise he made to himself as a child to prevent such atrocities from happening again and to promote humanity and kindness.