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It's hard to put down the hate.
I really do hate you for trying to control my body. It's true. I won't lie.
We can talk circles around when life begins, who has "rights" and your beliefs over mine all day and get nowhere. You think I'm immoral and I think you're naive. You call me a murderer and I call you ignorant of science.
That is never going away, and I accept it. You're not changing my mind. I'm not changing yours, and I accept it.
Kinda.
Well, enough to try and look past it a bit.
This weekend President Obama and Notre Dame's president Father Jenkins asked us to try and look past all this hate. They asked us, in no uncertain terms, to attempt dialogue.
Tough. I know. Believe me.
Today I attempted that dialogue on CNN.com with a panel of bloggers and by the end was ready to start yelling and screaming all over again at the conservatives and so-called "pro-lifers" on the panel. (refraining here from calling you anti-choice because you call me anti-life...but...bygones...)
This is probably the most thorn-ridden olive branch ever extended in the history of the world.
This is going to be hard..but if we both TRULY believe in our side of the debate we NEED to talk and see what we can accomplish.
I think there is easily room for common ground on adoption. The red-tape. The difficulties of the system here in the US.
I think there is room, maybe not as easily, for common ground on preventing the number and the need for abortions in the US. That means comprehensive sex education. It works, let's talk about it.
I also think there is room for common ground on learning to just plain live with one another. You don't have to like me and I don't have to like you. We can argue until we are blue in the face but when all is said and done you still live next door. Our kids still go to school together and we may actually agree on many other issues.
We've gotten so mired down in this fight that we can't even seem to agree if the President should be addressing a Catholic University like Notre Dame, because of the abortion issue. That in and of itself is sad.
As someone raised Catholic and still deeply conflicted over her faith, watching Notre Dame applaud the President actually gave me hope that we all really can live together. That the "other side" may not be so evil and that there is a shred of possibility we can co-exist without the constant war.
Notre Dame grad Lisa writes,
"As an institution of higher education if Notre Dame was to shield its students from the political debates of our time because they disagree with the church than in my opinion the university wouldn't be doing its job to educate future members of society. If the clout of the university is such that the President will speak to its graduates as they head off into uncertain times, then I applaud them. Learning to find common ground in life, in jobs, in careers is essential. I am proud that Obama spoke at Notre Dame and that at least the majority of the university community welcomed him."
Kim at LA Moms Blog, also an ND grad, says,
"...I do understand the protests. When you believe in something so wholeheartedly, it pisses you off when your idol - in this case The University of Notre Dame itself - seems to demonstrate a huge departure from your morals. On the other hand, I believe in respect. I have written that Barack Obama is not Jesus; well, he's not Saddam Hussein either. He is the President of our country, a historical figure, the man in whom we've put our faith to lead us out of an ever-growing pit of despair. Whether or not he leads us out or just makes it worse, he deserves a little respect. Who better than our nation's leader to provoke the minds of a few thousand young men and women who will be called upon to make change in our country, in the world?"
So you have to wonder, if we can't even agree on the President's appearance at Notre Dame, let alone his call for common ground discussion...how can we possibly move forward?
I'll tell you how and it's easier than you'd think...civility.
Civility takes work. Believe me, I know. Just writing this was an act in civility for me...someone
