Friday, January 30, 2015

Across the Aisle

Henry Clay was selected as one of the five greatest Senators in history which was partly based on his ability to compromise. One of his nicknames was the Great Compromiser due to him being able to reason intelligently and responsibly with all parties. Webster's dictionary states that the word compromise means "a settlement of differences by mutual concessions; an agreement reached by adjustment of conflicting or opposing claims, principles, etc., by reciprocal modification of demands"



To compromise seems to have lost all importance over the years. In the past, an elected official whose actions led him to work with his opponents and find a common ground for the common good was seen as an achiever and a patriot. Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neil did not always share the same political ideology but they found ways to agree enough to make a difference and retain their mutual respect. How our country became so divisive and fragmented is surprising based on our history, but today there is more of a separation of ideas and beliefs than ever. That separation has spread to intolerance and morphed into hate. Isn't it time to recognize that it's OK to be different and to reach across the aisle to find a place in the middle?

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