There is so much going on in the news that disturbs us. Our President is a narcissist of the highest order, with a side helping of impulsivity, an endless desire to roil the waters, and a seeming lack of empathy and compassion.

There are mass shootings far too often and when surviving students finally say ENOUGH, and begin to form a viable protest movement, they are vilified by Fox News and accused by at least one politician of being actors.

As someone who is always inspired by people willing and able to find common ground with folks they disagree with, I am at a bit of a crossroads here in 2018. I am not sure how much common group I can find with someone who thinks that assault weapons and semi-automatic rifles are necessary in civic life. I am not sure how much common ground I can find with folks who feel that their rights to carry and conceal assault weapons—is more important than the safety of our children.

I don’t understand the rigidity of the NRA. As a lawyer friend said recently, none of the amendments of the constitution are absolute. The right to free speech does not give you the right to shout FIRE in a crowded movie theater, no more than the right to bear arms should be construed to mean in any and all conditions.

I am not sure I can find common ground with someone who tells me that racism isn’t an issue in our country. I am not sure I can find common ground with the many Trump supporters who are willing to disregard Trump’s sexism, his lying, his disrespectful attitude towards almost everyone, and his egregious, hateful statements about Mexicans, Haitians, Africans and Muslims.

I take heart by learning about people on opposite sides of issues sitting down and talking to one another. For example, there was an On Being podcast in which David Gushee, Distinguished Professor of Christian Ethics and the author of The Sacredness of Human Life sat down with Frances Kissling, President of the Center for Health, Ethics, and Social Policy (as well as serving as the President of Catholics for Choice from 1982-2007).

These two are on opposite sides of what seems like an intractable debate and yet, the conversations remind each other of their shared humanity. Gushee has said that “there is real value in conversation..It is transformative.” (quoted from Catherine Epstein in a Feb

22, 2018 civil conversations project on On Being ).

John Sarrouf, at Essential Partners, tells his clients that when two parties are going to have a difficult conversation, “ a clear and shared intention” is crucial.

This is helpful information for us at any time. Whoever we are talking to, we should be honest and direct about what our goals are.

Telling the truth is so important at a time when the phrase, true fact, is not something out of a Monty Python movie.

Please listen for the truth, speak the truth, and remember all of our UU principles.

See you at 4 Cleaves Street!

Rev Susan