Letter to the editor: Compassion while at odds is possible

Maybe Donald Trump is the best president for our nation at this time.

Too often I read some of our local papers knowing that certain writers will present a point of view implying Trump is always right and everything he does is good. It’s just the “others” who cannot see all the good he has done.

Although I don’t agree with everything Trump does, I do believe he is the best person for president at this time in our history as a nation. His methods and behavior may not be the best. But I believe he has shown us who we are as a people.

After joining in Men’s Rites of Passage in 2009 I began to search for a deeper meaning in my faith walk as a Christian. That has led me to read works by Christian mystics such as Richard Rohr, Cynthia Bourgeault and St. Teresa of Avila and other writers like Joseph Campbell and Henri Nouwen writing about values.

The main takeaway is that many of us have a tendency to think in terms of bad and good, Democrat or Republican as well as my faith versus your faith. This is a simplification which doesn’t require much introspection. It creates a false dichotomy based on one’s own belief system. Worse yet, it creates hatred and division.

There is a “third way” requiring introspection and concern for others. This might be called both and/or “everything belongs” while attempting to reconcile different points of view. It requires one to listen with the heart and mind. To have compassion for the person even though you disagree.

Rod Walli,

Cromwell