and they not your opposition, they are your neighbors.

Politics brings out the worst in people.

The things we have in common are stronger than the things that separate us.

I am an ex-NY'er who recently relocated to Upper East Tennessee. It was nice to see that most folks here are not, in fact, drooling maniacs. (Not that I ever thought that, or I would not have chosen to move here).

No matter what happens on Nov 4th, I intend to engage my neighbors and get to know them as human beings. Most, I think, are decent people and want to do the right thing. True, this is a very red, red state, and there are not a few who listen to entirely too much talk radio.

Just the same, however, there will be lots of hurt feelings and disappointment on Nov. 5th. Although I am a staunch flamo-liberal birthright Democrat, I will be sensitive to the feelings of my neighbors.

I get the feeling that Obama understands that this kind of healing must take place, and I trust that he will truly do his best to unite us, unlike the other "Uniter".

Politics, indeed, does bring out the worst in people. One way to neutralize the cancer of tribalism is to take the radical step of leaving our comfy little bubbles and start talking to people. Anyone. About anything. Be genuine, be respectful, and live your values. This is my hope.

May it be so.

I remember hearing something alarming in the news and talking to my dad about it. He said, "Visualize this. There's a long, long freeway that is clear and safe and over there on the freeway is a burning tire. Now guess were the press is?"

they still put dubya in the whitehouse.

i wanna hear a plan to keep it from happening again. a plan to keep everyone in work, for a wage that will allow education and healthcare for all. and not one of those 'optional' plans the rich love, you know- the one where everybody can choose to live under a bridge if they want, rich or poor.

it's ok to be nice to republicans. but you wouldn't let senile dementia cases drive a city bus, and nor should you let republicans run anything more complicated than a library. don't, don't let them be in charge of living creatures or dispose of any power greater than a light bulb.

Al,

I know what happened, but it is important to understand why it happened, and what each of us can do to prevent it from happening again.

The approach to politics in this country has been very broken, for a very long time.

No doubt, a big part of the blame for this can be placed on the Politics of Division. What saddens me most is not that pols (and the GOP in particular) do this, it is that we were so EASY to divide.

We now have half the country at the throats of the other half.

In this day and age, the kinds of fractious tribalism we have seen should not have to happen. The solution is not to marginalize ordinary folks, but to engage them, and to get to know them as people. Do so while fearlessly living your values. The point is to reinforce the idea that we all depend on each other, whether we believe it or not.

It's very easy for liberals to circle the wagons and hang out in places like Salon. The real work is when you force yourself to seek out others who are not like you, and engage them respectfully. Doing this authentically requires a great deal of introspection and spiritual maturity. I am a work in progress, and it is still plenty hard for me to not have contempt for people (e.g. thoughtless "conservatives) who think differently than I, but the point is I know it, and desire to change that part of myself.

In some respects, moving from NYC to E. TN has immeasurably helped this transformation. Liberal NYC 'tude don't play too well in these parts, nor should it. Here, or anywhere. Too many of us liberals carry the so-called "stink of enlightment" which is very off-putting to others.

This country will heal one relationship at a time. It is up to us, if we want it to happen.

Now go and talk to your neighbor.

Have to agree with Al's post, except for the comment about republicans running the library, oh no...not, one of the hallmarks of our democracy, the library! Please don't let them run the libraries any further into the ground...libraries, equal access for all.

Signed,

A former Repug, long converted

Down here (South Texas) Abilene is Texas. we all think of it as days gone, down here, there is 17 of us that know what Abilene stands (stood) for. there in Abilene, there's 23 of how Abilene used to be, you met 9. you said: they (all of Abilene) voted 75 percent to keep the Occupant in the Shame House.

9 equals 75 percent? it don't add up, you were City slicked.

there are more idiots in Abilene than you were allowed to meet.

I know some fine upstanding Republicans myself. Some of them were raised in Leave It To Beaver type towns. That's what they know, everybody worked an honest job and it didn't make sense to them that other people need government handouts. Nevermind the fact that while Ward and June were teaching life lessons, there was still legal institutionalized racism in the proud old USA.

And they don't really understand why people would fly planes into buildings, believing the hype that Muslims hate us because of our freedoms. I don't think they've ever been taught the history of the Middle East.

Most of them are certainly fine people, but they just don't understand. You might notice the parallel to what Obama said about McCain in his acceptance speech. And I believe that.

This was a fine article and I hope that the next President acknowledges these facts. And it begs the question, do you want the guy who keeps talking about one America, or do you want the guy who calls other people socialists and terrorist pals?