"I doubt President Bush's best friends support him 100 percent of the time. As long as human beings are involved, there will always be differences -- some significant -- within a philosophy, political party or nation.

Then we expect that line of thinking in this country. Even in a democracy -- no, make that, especially in a democracy -- there is a tension between those who govern and we who are governed. The tradition of dissent is just one way we Americans look at the world.

But what if we had the ability to change lenses? What if we could put on a pair of glasses and see the world differently?

Luckily, we have that power: We can look for insight from the words of people we judge to be credible. There are voices in the world that help us understand differences."

Get the Story:
Mark Trahant: For U.S. and Iran, it's time to talk (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 5/14)

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