ISSUES: Seek to understand

Advancing your knowledge and awareness in world affairs is not only the responsible move, but an obligation you hold as a citizen of your community by staying mindful of the issues that transpire and understand how they will affect not only you but society as well.

There lies on the geopolitical landscape an astringent pendulum of polarized opposites that undermines the possibility for meaningful, constructive dialogue.

On one side is the right wing, Bible-toting, Second Amendment-loving Americans who don’t really know anything else about the Constitution and don’t understand it is a living document open to interpretation and further amending.

Then there’s the left wing liberal heart-throbbing, cure-the-world-of-all-its-ailments-through-taxation and legislate-more-programs Democrats.

These are the polar opposites we have grown accustomed to, sadly.

I will not.

I am a dedicated social Democrat liberal on one hand and an ardent fiscal conservative Republican on the other. With these principles, values and ideological differences, I am able to come to the middle ground of reason and understanding.

If you only keep your focus on one perspective, how can you grow in your understanding?

I would implore everyone to just step out of their comfort zone and force yourself to focus on the opposite side and recognize a positive and from it you will sift out the meaningless rhetoric.

The longer we go injecting malice and ignorance into our political arena, the faster the possibility of the collapse altogether of our democratic colosseum that took so long to construct and uphold.

Be both a responsible and educated citizen of society and don’t dismiss the issues, but rather address them and further educate yourself on them.

SASHA FISHER

Coeur d’Alene