Okay, that may be
a bit of an over characterization of our conversation.
The fact is, though, that while she’s not thrilled with Mr.
Trump and has serious reservations about him, she is a conservative Republican
and even though I’m not an extremist on gun control, I am a liberal leaning
Democrat.
Needless to say we have our differences- some of which are
deep and likely never to be reconciled.
We’re also friends.
Her husband and I have been friends for years and she and my wife have
grown close as well. (Yes, you read that
right – since last rant I have me a missus [her term before you rip me]…but I
digress) My friend is smart, funny,
ambitious and strong (as is my wife, for that matter...).
We can talk about anything and all is well. Politics are a different story. At the end of the day, though, the four of us
can go out to dinner, have a good time and enjoy the company.
When I was in Washington D.C. and working for the House of
Representatives, Ronald Reagan was President and Tip O’Neil was Speaker of the
House. The two could not agree on anything as far as the direction of the
country, the role of government or governing philosophy. Yet they could remain friendly. After Iran-Contra, Reagan wasn’t “Lyin’
Ronny”. When Ted Kennedy challenged a sitting President Jimmy Carter in the
primaries, no one threw chairs.
At the end of the conversation we parted as friends. There wasn’t any name calling. There was conversation. We won’t agree on everything political but
that’s okay. There is an ebb and flow to
the political leanings of the country.
We live in the greatest country in the world where freedom of speech and
expression should be cherished and nurtured.
Civil discourse and then compromise has served this country
well for 240 years. It’s very sad and
disheartening to see politics and governance has become my way or no way. Maybe the powers that be need to take a
lesson from two friends in a bar?
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