Opinion: The Power of an American Third Place

I believe in American exceptionalism. We’re founded on the idea that all people are created equal, not the sole existence of a religion or ethnicity. It was a fairly radical idea at the time, but, I believe, has played a large role in our politics’ resilience to authoritarian rule and demagoguery.

Make no mistake, our institutions are continuously tested throughout our history. I would argue that this moment is a prime example of this test; we’re incredibly divided as a nation, and domestic terrorism fueled by extremism is on the rise. For a lot of people, their faith in their fellow Americans is waning. Are we too different to get along? Should we stop engaging in community altogether? 

I must admit, the most fatalistic thoughts I’ve had about the potential for us to get along surface when I’m sitting in my bedroom, scrolling through my phone. However, when I’m visiting a “third place”, defined as a location where you go to interact with others outside of your home and place of work, a lot of it melts away.

Take Eco Evolution, for example, an adorable coffee shop and artisan market on Washington Street in South Norwalk. There, I’m able to chat with the barista, meet with friends and family, and attend meetings for the community groups that I care about. However, equally important as meeting the people I do know are seeing the people that I don’t know. Even when I go alone, I’m still in the presence of community members getting a drink or pursuing vintage clothing. They’re not there because they share the same race or gender as me, but we’re still sharing the space. We may have grown up on opposite sides of the planet and have very different political beliefs, but we’re still able to have a pleasant conversation.

These interactions may seem ordinary, boring, almost. At the same time, they’re exactly what our society needs, and I believe, the story of America.

To be clear, a coffee shop isn’t the only “third place” in which these interactions can occur. I love my local library, I enjoy going to Norwalk’s new dog park with my golden retriever, Maisy, and it’s always wonderful to take a stroll on the Norwalk River Valley Trail.

In my view, these destinations are critical to bringing people of many different inherent traits together. They reinforce our American principles of equality, and help us make our community, and thus, our democracy, work.