Ishpeming, and the west end is the perfect community to show the rest that we can have conversations with each other without everything turning negative, political, or rude.

When the chips are down, our community has always come together, it’s part of the fabric of the community. We cannot lose that. People who don’t even know one another insult each other because they won’t take the time to get to know them, or be open-minded to what they are saying. Disagreements are fine, having discussion and debate is great, but expecting each person to believe in the same things that you do is not reality.

Lets find the time to pause, just for a second, and remember in a community the size of Ishpeming, and the entire west end, we are all neighbors. Let us also remember each of us have a different story of our life, our experiences, and so on. Let us also remember, behind the keyboard and screen is another human being.

The art of compromise is listening and being open to changing your own mind for the good of everyone. Listen… ponder… and remember every person on this earth is different. And let us also remember, we are all the Lord’s children.

Try to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. The phrase is talking about empathy and understanding. I turn to the wisdom of former leaders like state representatives Cambensy and the late John Kivela, and current state Sen. Ed McBroom, for they were and are the peacemakers.

Let’s get back to talking again. Compromise is the true art of the deal, conversation, and not attacks against one another.