Does America Have a Future?
The other day I hit a quandary. Maybe you can help me resolve it. A little background will help you understand how I got to the quandary. Ten years ago I wrote a book. It [...]
The Weirdest Common Ground Ever
Many people are bemoaning America’s vicious public square. Few are discussing the weird common ground that most of us share—and what might be the best way to address it. Two recent conversations brought this into [...]
Where Convictions and Friendship Collide
You’re talking with an old friend over coffee. At one point in the conversation, she uses a word that sets off every alarm bell in your head. Clearly she believes something you don’t believe at [...]
Looking for Common Ground on the Gun Debate
When it comes to guns, what can we all agree on? You may think this a fool’s question, especially if you’ve spent any time with the media (print, broadcast, social, or otherwise) in the past [...]
What I’ve Learned from the Race/Policing Conversation
Over the past week or two, I’ve had a number of vigorous and civil conversations about police behavior, the use of force, and race in America. Emerging from those conversations are several points that, I [...]
I Went to a Flame War the Other Day…
…and a civil dialogue broke out. A few weekends ago I took part in an event related to my hobby. From what I could see, it was very well run, the venue was ideal, and [...]
A Miracle in Sonoma?
Sometimes, when we talk less, it’s amazing what we hear. One highlight of my trip to San Francisco last month (to promote the book) was the chance to take part in “5 White Guys Talk [...]
Dialogue When the Sparks Fly
Bad moods and Facebook are generally a lousy mix. We’ve all heard warnings about that. In most cases, I can back away from the keyboard long enough to calm down. Sunday was different. As you [...]
Yeah, but YOUR Candidate…
This pattern has probably been around since the first election. My sense, though, is that we’re hearing more of it than usual. See if you agree. Imagine that I have decided to vote for Barack [...]
When a Dialogue on Guns Breaks Out—or Two or Three
Sometimes people inspire the hell out of me. That includes some of you over the past three weeks. In my last post—shortly after the horrific shootings in Aurora, Colorado—I posed a few questions for people [...]