Can we all just go out for a ‘beer?’

During the 17 years that I have been a part of the Lind and Ritzville communities, there have been very few issues as contentious and divisive as the recent matters concerning the school cooperative and the hospital controversy.

What makes this time even more difficult for our towns is that these two issues are happening simultaneously. While I heartily agree that they are of importance – for they deal with both our children and the quality of life for the residents in our towns – I am troubled by how relationships between residents have been negatively impacted, possibly to the point of being irreparably damaged.

It is sad that mature adults cannot have differences of opinion without allowing it to become personal. My wife Kim has told me how her father, who was a school board member for many years and a chairman of the board of the Educational Service District 101, could spar passionately in debate over important questions, but at the end of the day could go out with his “opponent” for a beer. I respect that.

Our system of government is based on representation. We elect people to make decisions for us. While we may or may not agree with the decisions of our politicians – whether on the national, state or local level – we all abide by those decisions for the sake of a stable and orderly society.

Furthermore, we have the most powerful right of dissent democracy provides – our vote. You can show your support, or lack thereof, for the members of the relevant boards by exercising that right during next Tuesday’s election.

I hope, however, that it would stop there. Can we agree to disagree with opinions, and not with people? Jesus commanded us to “love your enemies” and to “love your neighbor as yourself.” This would be a great time to live that out.

Regarding these issues, I would rather lose an argument than lose a friend. It’s my hope and prayer that we all have the same attitude. And after the election… can we all just go out for a “beer?”