Letter: Differences do not have to divide

My in-laws had a 'mixed marriage.” He was a Republican and she was a Democrat. And yet, it somehow worked out. Both of them would get upset about something and both would write their congressman. It was interesting to read his reply when he knew the background of the two.

My brother moved to town. He invited me over for an evening. I was really looking forward to it. It had been years since I talked with him as he lived with his family all around the world. As the conversation began, he started arguing. The night was ruined. After that, I would call my mother who lived about 250 miles away from both of us and she would tell me how my brother was doing. I no longer saw him. Politics is thicker than blood. We knew that didn't we?

A new book, 'Blue in a Red State: The Survival Guide to Life in the Real America,” discusses our country's Red-Blue divide. I can still recall all the mistakes I made when I was trying to appear be free of politics. Often when teaching at Kirkwood, I would try to run down the middle. And that is a problem, where is the middle?

Teach your children well. The country has been going through a bad patch, but we got through other times and survived. 'Iowa nice” can be a real treasure right now. Someday, things are going to get better or we won't have the right to argue.

Joel Snell

Cedar Rapids