A day or so ago, I put in a call to an old friend of mine. Well, the tenure wasn’t really there, however this fellow was a person with whom I spent a lot of time when he lived in my town: Watched ballgames together; dinners with our wives, etc. Well, it was one of many I’ve made to him with no response.
This time was different. His girlfriend called me back, leaving a voicemail that my “friend” no longer wished to talk with me because “You’re [me] so far to the left and he’s so far on the right.” Now, there’s little question that the schism between “right” and “left” in this nation is quite wide as one views it from the further ends of the spectrum. But not since my anti-war days have I considered myself so far to the left that it was impossible to engage in colloquy with the “worthy opposition.” In fact, I view myself as rather a “moderate left wing Democrat.”
In 66 years of political involvement as a reporter, flack and citizen, I’ve never experienced this. Now while I’m an absolute “right to choose” advocate, I’m not especially negative on gun ownership, notwithstanding that I see no reason for folks to carry the damned things or even own them save for sport.
How awful to think that the schism has reached this point.
