Is There a Place Where We Can Meet?
© Glenn Dromgoole
One of us thinks abortion is simply murder, period. One of us thinks the government shouldn’t be able to tell a woman what to do with her body.
One of us says the government should not have the power to require anyone to be vaccinated. One of us says universal vaccinations are reasonable safeguards for public health.
One of us believes President Trump has done more than any president this generation to restore pride in being an American. One of us believes President Trump has done more than any president in history to destroy democracy.
One of us posts right-wing diatribes on Facebook. One of us posts left-wing rants on Facebook.
One of us quotes the Bible to support our political point of view. One of us quotes Jesus to contradict that point of view.
One of us says history should be taught the way it always has been. One of us says history should be more inclusive of other points of view.
One of us wants to ban books we consider inflammatory. One of us sees that as dangerous to free expression.
One of us sees a Communist in every Democrat. One of us sees a Nazi in every Republican.
One of us believes our point of view is just common sense and anything else is nuts. One of us believes our point of view is reasonable and anything else is irrational.
And, yet. Both of us are proud to be Americans. Both of us would rather live here than anywhere else. Both of us may be friends, or church members, or business associates, or relatives.
Is there a place where we can meet? Is there a way we can say -- I might be right, you might be right -- I might be wrong, you might be wrong -- but can we talk? And, somehow, find a way to get along with each other, even if we don’t agree.
If we can’t find that middle ground, some common table at which to sit, what does it mean for our future as a nation, as friends, as colleagues, as families?
We are different people with differing thoughts. We are not enemies.