Letter to the Editor

There does seem to be a lot of hate for President Trump and all that he is doing isn't there? The unwavering support on one side and all out criticism on the other shows a country divided. I reckon the divisiveness of our country is so vast and polarizing that if a debate began over pistachio flavored ice cream, party lines would be drawn with one side agreeing and the other chanting “ROCKY ROAD! ROCKY ROAD!”. Even though almost everyone has never even given pistachio a chance. Even though the Rocky-Road-Rooters aren’t all that crazy about those little marshmallows thrown into the gooey goodness.

Is there room for disagreement? Without one side versus another? Is there room for conversation? I hope so. Because amidst all of the hate, amidst all of the polarizing chants, there are many opinions and beliefs on both sides. There are the Cherry Eccentrics among the Pistachio People. And these people might have some very good things to say and perspectives to bring, if they were given more room to voice their opinions. And once they do, instead of calling them a backstabbing, traitorous turncoat, might we find in ourselves the capacity to heed a nonconforming word? To listen to a voice that calls into question the status quo? Or have we become so sure of our rightness that we forget the experiences of others that have brought them to their own opinions? We lose sight of the person. It would be like viewing everyone around us as either a Pistachio or Rocky Road pail of ice cream. What a ridiculous thought...but oh how prevalent is this box-placing, “You’re either for us or against us” diminishment of human life.

Thus, in the midst of so much name calling, “childish” behavior and endless quarreling, it is essential that we do not become deceived: that we do not forget to listen and respond in love. But love involves relationships. It involves listening. And with listening, comes questioning the very things we have taken for verbatim and analyzing the ways that “good” might actually cause “bad”. For Christians, it means putting beliefof God above beliefs about God. For only then can we come to see that someone else’s hate might come from some very real hurt. And addressing and acknowledging that hurt might be the very thing that the Messiah meant when he said, “Love your enemies”.

Brody Hed

Becker, MN