We needed to get to know each other and to listen to each other's stories so that we could envision and work toward making northwest Iowa a region where all of us could flourish together, whatever our race or ethnicity.
Disagreements as a Pathway Towards Common Ground in Politics
Considering the goal of politics to be the search for common ground that promotes the common good, there are enormous disagreements as to the substance of that common ground.
Political Advocacy for Immigration Reform is a Marathon not a Sprint
The primary reason why advocacy for immigration reform is a marathon is because it will require a change in minds and hearts of many Anglos in our region and our political representatives, which is a slow process.
Respectful Conversations as Deep Expression of Love
To get to know someone well enough to create a safe, welcoming space for that person to express their beliefs and their reasons for holding to those beliefs, and then having respectful conversations in an attempt to uncover our agreements and illuminate our disagreements is, for me, a deep expression of love for that person.