Making bipartisanship normal again
Dear Editor:
I am writing in response to the recent article, HISTORY LESSONS: Death, taxes… and politics. The author mentioned the headstone of my grandparents, Bob and Margie Wilber. Before they passed, Margie designed the headstone and proudly included the inscription Born a Democrat, died a Democrat under her name and Born a Republican, died a Republican under my grandfather’s name. I’ll admit it, the inscription is unique and it makes me smile everytime I read it. Even though their political affiliations differed, my grandparents were married for 57 years and together they instilled in our family a legacy of civic participation and responsibility.
Honoring bipartisanship is not extreme. Marrying your political opposite and loving them until death is not extreme.
Today’s political rhetoric tries to make our differences appear extreme and create a divide that seems too wide to bridge. As Americans, it is our responsibility to practice empathy and find the common values that keep us united as a nation. Bob and Margie, surely had their moments of disagreement. But these moments were overcome with mutual respect and love for one another and their country. A love that was strong enough to memorialize in stone. I hope readers take a moment to reflect on the importance of bipartisanship in our country and help honor Bob and Margie’s legacy by making bipartisanship normal again.
With respect to my fellow Americans,
Anna Stehle
