As I have started following the news again, I’ve become more and more concerned with what’s happening in Hong Kong. It’s a complicated situation; there are no easy answers. You can’t ignore the complex history and relationship that Hong Kong and China have shared over a long period of time.

But what started as a protest against extradition has now morphed into a much scarier animal. It seems the same thing plagues Hong Kong as in many other parts of the world: a lack of understanding, of communication, of consideration.

I may be an outsider to the situation, but with the violence occurring in Hong Kong, it’s clear the two sides are very far apart. It eerily resembles the political polarization in the United States. People have become so entrenched in their view, their ‘side,’ that it’s impossible to even recognize the opposition, let alone communicate with them to try to make progress.

There are no easy solutions to this situation. But there are alternate approaches.

Those protesting in Hong Kong can recognize the difference between disruptive and violent protest. They can consider who is being disrupted—someone's neighbor, a student trying to learn, a member of the community? Or the government?

Hong Kong leadership could open a safe channel of communication with citizens and protesters, to enable peaceful discussion between the two viewpoints. These steps are difficult when we’re emotionally implicated, but they are possible.

For those of us outside Hong Kong, what can we do? The same as above, just like those directly involved. Even easier, we can have a meaningful conversation with someone about what’s going on. We can listen more than we speak in that conversation, we can make it our aim to learn the other’s thoughts, their opinion. We can take to social media and write letters. We can insist on a peaceful resolution between both parties.

Because at the end of the day, people live in Hong Kong. It’s their home. Their lives have been disrupted, sometimes even threatened. Hong Kong is such a vibrant, dynamic place, a special part of our world. It’s disheartening to see it devolve into violence.

We all share this planet, and we all want the same things—health, prosperity, community. Can we achieve them peacefully?