Different yet united

I thank Rob Leach for his letter to the Spokesman of Jan. 12, “Supporting Trump’s values.” I counted eleven points that Rob makes. Knowing the thinking of a Trump supporter shows that we agree on some important things.

More than half of the things Rob mentions are reasons that some would oppose Trump. I suspect that Rob does not believe that there are different but valid points of view.

Someone was speaking of a frequent political position of people today. That person said people (in all parties) are not convinced, they are converted. The thing that this mindless conviction ignores is this: democracy and the ability to get anything done requires that we listen to each other with great attention to what we can agree upon.

I like this little poem. It shows a better way.

“He drew a circle that shut me out-

Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.

But love and I had the wit to win:

We drew a circle and took him In!”

― Edwin Markham

Allan deLaubenfels

Spokane Valley