Frank [No Name Given] and Melissa K

Recorded January 23, 2024 Archived January 23, 2024 51:43 minutes

Id: osh000145

Description

One Small Step conversation partners Frank [No Name Given] (69) and Melissa K (43) discuss their interest in understanding different values and politics and wonder what it is to "be an American" in a changing country with such a diverse population.

Subject Log / Time Code

0:00

Frank [No Name Given] (F) introduces himself. Melissa K. (MK) introduces herself.

07:58

MK shares about her trans son shaping her adult life and how he taught her she doesn't need to understand someone else's identity for it to be their identity. F shares how working with cowboys in Wyoming in his youth shaped his very conservative views and how hard it has been to change some of them as he's aged.

23:04

When discussing immigration, F and MK explore how open borders could work and how immigration policy has shaped the country leading to a change definition and more ambiguity and division on the definition of "American." F brings up how people used to assimilate more into American culture whereas he sees that less now. MK shares a story about her husband's family not speaking their native language when they moved to the US as they "were American now." and she goes on to draw the distinction between chosen assimilation of immigrants and forced assimilation of Native Americans and slaves.

37:25

F talks about being able to separate the politician and the message and MK talks about her struggle with that.

51:25

They both acknowledge feeling more hopeful, informed, and connected.