Healthy comprimise

David Brooks, conservative New Your Times columnist, says that whenever we're debating a controversial issue with someone, it's a good idea to approach each other with the attitude: "I'm 50% right and you're 50% right." This approach, says Mr. Brooks, will provide some give and take in the debate, some room for healthy compromise, with the result that progress can be made in dealing with the issue.

He goes on to say that if we approach our opponent with the attitude: "I'm 100% right and you're 100% wrong.", that approach will end in gridlock, neither party able or willing to grant that the other side has any merit. Obviously, only hardening of positions and thinking, with no progress in dealing with the issue will result when both sides claim to be 100% right and their opponent 100% wrong.

Mr. Brooks, I believe, is reminding us that there is great wisdom in the virtue of humility. Being able to acknowledge that we may be wrong, that we are not all-knowing and all-wise in our understanding of, or in our dealings with, most issues in everyday life, puts us on a path of significant learning and progress.

Thank you, Mr. Brooks, for your wise and thoughtful insight.

Ron Moen

Quincy