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53 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, November 14, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 14, 2004 Since WE Asked: One Nation, Indivisible? Now, wasn’t that fun! Since the presidential election ended in relatively short order for an election in the 2000s, it’s time to move on ... except for that 600-pound gorilla in the corner. President Bush received 51 percent of the vote; Sen. Kerry pulled in 48 percent. Kerry’s blue-state rim was parted by a red-state sea of electoral votes. Both candidates spoke of bringing the country together. Commendable objective, but neither man seemed to voice a plan on how to go about it. So, we thought you might know. We asked: Advertisement "The presidential election results point to a continuing political divide within America. Where should we, as one nation, seek to find common ground?" Your answers follow. After reading through them, please take a moment to answer this week’s new question. Religion is dividing us; keep it personal and OUT of government. — J. Schmitz, Medford The answer is "nowhere," because of: 1. neo-cons; 2. militant evangelicals; 3. right-wing talk (hate) radio. — Marilyn G., Grants Pass When the president says (and I quote) ... "I will reach out to anyone who shares our goals" ... it seems very doubtful. — Kathy S., Cyberspace We’s sooo sorry Boss! Please don’ whip us no mo’! Us liberals’ll do jus’ like you-all say! We’uns seen the error of our ways. — Terry D., Ashland Free from ideology, even religious ones. They are not doctrines to fight for. Be unattached to views. The knowledge we possess is not absolute truth. — Robert S., Jacksonville To the Democrats: Forget the radical Right. Start a dialogue with moderate and liberal conservatives. To the Republicans: Don’t expect the Democrats to roll over. — Robert & Senta C., Medford ... in the fact that we all lost the election to fear and lies, both nurtured by ignorance. We should focus on increasing funding for public schools to increase the chance that common sense becomes more common. — Darryl E., Eagle Point Healing will come only through invoking the greatest light and greatest love to stream into our own minds and the minds of all our leaders! — LaUna H., Ashland It’s the president’s job. It’ll be over in four years. We will need a new prez who’ll quickly undo the damage. —Jeanie, Grants Pass We need strong political leadership with integrity willing to change a divide-and-conquer, win-at-all-costs political election process. — George T., Medford As long as many of us are living in poverty and people are desperate to find jobs that will support their families, we cannot find any middle ground that will unify this country. When all of your energy is going to survival, there is just nothing left over at the end of the day. And I can see that it will continue to get worse. — Vanessa H., Ashland If "common ground" equates to surrendering moral principles, the issue is pointless. — Mark K., Medford Lord, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Bigotry, discrimination and impetuous leadership cannot be compromised; it isfundamentally immoral. We’ll stay divided. — Gloria E., Ashland Political divide in America can only become "common ground" when parties change their attitude toward the other. Hate never leads to successful conjoining. — Art J., Rogue River Somewhere besides the church. Equal rights for ALL, environment, crime, and the list goes on. — Wil S., Gold Hill How would it be if we just started with the concept that equal rights are for all of us, not just those we consider equal to ourselves? From what I’ve been led to believe, there is only one individual that can claim that we are made in his or her image, so why don’t we use that as our standard for equality? — Tom P., Medford I can’t, at this point, believe that we can find common ground. As a deeply disappointed Democrat, I’m not interested in Republican viewpoints. — C. Elliott, Medford We’ll never find common ground. Our American culture is far too ethnocentric and xenophobic. — Franklin C., Jacksonville ... in the Constitution, transparent, fair elections, honest, positive campaigns, and compassion and understanding of people not like us. — Rick, Ashland While there is an invite for ‘Dems’ to participate in the process of taking this administration’s policies and appointments forward, the ‘Dems’ were not voted in to lead. — Tim M., Ruch This Week’s Question Predators are coming. No, not more politicians. Gray wolves, which were hunted out of existence in Oregon years ago, are on their way back through the West. Not everyone, particularly those who lose livestock to the packs, is thrilled with the idea. But does that mean laxing hunting laws, or just trying to monitor the wolves more closely? It’s nature vs. environment and the answers aren’t easy. That’s why we turn to you. We ask: "How involved should the state become in managing the expected migration of gray wolves back into Oregon?" Please keep your answers brief and on the issue at hand. Responses received without your name and town can not be considered for publication. All responses will appear on the Web site a week from today. You may submit your answer by using the form here on the Web site, or you may respond directly to [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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