Trying to remain friends despite politics

Recently a longtime friend objected to my email criticizing Gov. Kim Reynolds for not mandating a statewide shutdown. 'I don't hang with people who talk politics,” he declared. But how can democracy work if people remain silent? And how do we walk the line between being personally affable and politically responsible? My reply:

Dear Friend,

I am truly sorry for beaming my excesses your way. To me politics is no team sport; it's the arena where public policy is made, and policy can aggravate or alleviate human suffering, save lives or end them. Bad policy prevails whenever enough good people fail to call it out.

In my zeal, however, I may forget that my friends have priorities and opinions of their own. In future I promise only banter and pleasantness between us. And no doubt I'll figure out some other way to save the world.

Lorna Lewers

Cedar Rapids