Is There Moderation On The Horizon?

We Have To Agree, Or What?

I never thought I’d live in a country where your beliefs would actually disqualify you from certain kinds of work.

There’s a long story behind all of this but let’s get right to the heart of the matter.

I remember a day when my dad was a negotiator for the Oregon Education Association. I know, don’t hold that against me. At the time teachers salaries were horrible and my dad came from a long line of teachers and fought hard to get better rights for them.

I don’t think he ever dreamed it would turn out where the teachers union had more power than the governor.

I digress.

My point being, after a hard fought battle with the school board my dad and those he’s fought toe-to-toe with would go out to dinner when everything was wrapped up.

They didn’t let their disagreements come between civility or even friendships.

We’ve allowed the media and party leaders to divide us to that place. Can you even imagine fighting it out at a city council meeting and then going out afterwards and having a beer with those folks? Why not? What has happened to us?

Trust or lack there of is a huge problem. Everyone is afraid to give, just a little, because in the past when we did, the other side seemed to take a lot. In today’s culture, to win is everything, compromise means a loss, which shouldn’t be.

I think we’ve become so extreme on each side we can’t even open the door a crack to try to see how the other side feels.

I have no answer as to how we bridge this giant gap between your ideas and mine.

I think we all feel like right and wrong is no longer a consideration, not just in ideology, but in our morality. I’d like to have some closing line that offered an idea or have a five step program to better communications, but I don’t.

I do know we can’t keep going like this. Perhaps ask ourselves “What is moderation?” How do we move from far left and far right to some place in the middle? Or do we?

Do you have a workable idea? You know, realistic?