1 State Reps. Matt Krause and Carl Sherman — Re: “Dem, GOP lawmakers forge unique friendship — Sherman, Krause opt to bridge political divide with dialogue,” March 30 Metro & Business story.
We need more of this, much more of this.
While it’s easy for people to find areas of disagreement, what the U.S. and the world need more are people who can find common ground and build upon areas of agreement. Republican Rep. Matt Krause and Democrat Rep. Carl Sherman are to be commended for having a great time as they prayed together, ate together and laughed together.
Likewise, Alex Briseño is to be commended for seeing the beauty of this approach and for reporting the story. If more politicians, more journalists and more people of all walks of life gave more and better effort to pursue areas of agreement, we might all be more productive in finding solutions to important issues where gaps in perspective reasonably exist. It is common knowledge in business that negotiators are most successful when building first on areas of agreement rather than harshly opening with and continually pounding on areas of disagreement.
We all need to ask ourselves: How much time and energy am I spending seeking areas of agreement and acknowledging areas of agreement vs. persistently hammering away at areas of disagreement?
Michael S. Shiff, Plano
2 Peggy Wehmeyer’s column - Re: “What good is God if he doesn’t protect us? People of faith who have suffered accept that the world is broken, but there is resurrection all around,” by Peggy Wehmeyer, Sunday Opinion.
Wehmeyer shared her story and relationship with God. Her views on deity and how God is always there as we move in and out of our struggles was reassuring. She covered an abundance of deep soul-related areas that connect to the uncertainties that are now present and hovering over the young and the old. She definitely accentuated the powerful importance of trusting God no matter what.
Arlene Beasley, Rowlett
3 My Possibilities — Dallas is a great city for many reasons, but I especially love how they accept everyone. Everyone is given an opportunity to work and go to school and have fun. In the United States, there are 48.9 million people with a disability. Schools and places such as My Possibilities that offer work and education for these people make a huge impact.
My Possibilities offers education, special events and enterprise projects for people with Down syndrome, autism and other cognitive disabilities. The staff and donors work miracles to make these people feel special and like they belong. We are lucky to have My Possibilities and other places like it around — they change people’s lives.
Emma De Los Santos, Houston
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