LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: Consider your perspective...

A few weeks ago, Wendy Brzezny of Thriving Together NCW contacted me and asked me to attend the organization’s 2025 summit, with the theme, “Thriving Together Toward Tomorrow.” The event was held at the Wenatchee Convention Center, and I’m grateful that I decided to go rather than deflecting it because I was worried about being out of the office. I tend to do that a lot, then wonder why I get deflated and feel burnt out. 

Just don’t tell my wife that I admitted to that.  

Part of the burnout that I experience in the job is caused by seeing the divisiveness in the greater Columbia Basin community, the individual towns that make it up, and even our national community. Many of us have become so embedded in identity politics — left vs. right, conservative vs. liberal, urban vs. rural, rich vs. poor — that we have put our heads in siloed viewing rooms hardened by social media and encouraged by biased national media outlets who, infuriatingly, don’t follow the values my profession is supposed to adhere to.  

The summit was a refreshing reality check, though.

In a room filled with well over 100 people from throughout North Central Washington, I saw liberals, conservatives, people of all wealth levels, recovering addicts, people with doctorates and people who had a high school diploma or GED all talking together and looking at how they could solve common problems. 

Throughout the conference, there were reminders that we all want the same things at our core. Healthy food and drink. A roof over our heads. A feeling of belonging and empowerment. Meaningful purpose in life, often through a job offering fair compensation or through our faith. Opportunities to learn and grow. And – a beautiful place to live surrounded by nature.

Some of us may view that through a Republican, Democratic or Libertarian lens, but in the end, those are the things we need for a good quality of life. We want that not just for ourselves, but for our neighbors, even if they are on the other end of the political – or other – spectrum.  

I think it’s important that we all remember to look at one another as humans. We don’t have to like each other or agree with each other to hold compassion or empathy in our hearts. We can be kind to those we disagree with and even those we may strongly dislike.  

So, next time you see someone with a No Kings sign or a MAGA hat, I’m asking you to remember that the person behind the sign or the hat is just another human being. They struggle with their lives just like you. They get frustrated with the government just like you. They worry about their families just like you. And, on occasion, they probably even crack the same bad jokes as you. 

It’s always okay to be human and remember the humanity of others.  

I’d also say it’s okay to have a conversation where you don’t end up agreeing with one another, and there’s no reason we can’t disagree but come to a compromise or at least understand that the person’s viewpoint comes from lived experience. Despite what the national narrative may be, most folks have views based on lived experiences, not brainwashing or being unintelligent.  

The people I spoke with during the conference were all good human beings. Their politics varied. Their races were diverse. Their specific needs were all a little different. But, in the long run, they all agreed that we can work together to build stronger communities by working for those essential needs we all have. 

I hope you all have an opportunity to see the humanity in others today, like I did on Wednesday. It’s well worth seeing.  

Thank you for your readership and your contributions to the Columbia Basin. 

With respect, 

R. Hans “Rob” Miller
Managing Editor
Columbia Basin Herald
Basin Business Journal