Do We All Have to be Right?

It just sort of happens. One day you realize you have an opinion on some politician's views or legislation, and then it begins to snowball. A few opinions turn into an ethos, and then you are firmly entrenched into the political debate. Perhaps you lean right, and perhaps you lean left. In the end you definitely align with someone. I've been so caught up in it over the last political cycle and the landmark election that I haven't taken the opportunity to step back from it until just recently. When I did I asked the question... "Do we all have to be right?"

I suppose that's about as loaded a question as one can pose, but it's pertinent to where we are at as a society. I don't believe we do. Sure there are some issues and topics that there is just right and wrong ideologically. For instance, no Progressive is going to bend on their moral stance regarding torture or civil equity, and their are a variety of moral/religious issues that Conservatives aren't willing to bend on at all. However, is there truly not some middle ground?

Is it such a monumental stretch to say for instance as a Progressive that I would concede a ban on late-term abortion if there were a concession for allowance in the instance that the mother's health was in significant danger? I don't think this concession would nullify my liberal political viewpoint. Conversely, would a conservative be giving up his red/white/blue stripes if he conceded to large investments in the impoverished class pertaining to healthcare and public education if there were oversight to prohibit large-scale abuse and indefinite dependence?

My point is that we often stand so stratified in political ideals that nothing gets done that either of us want. I thought that President Obama exemplified this measured brand of thinking in his speech at Notre Dame recently. In essence what he said was abortion is legal, so let's put our heads together and figure out a way to reduce the number of abortions that are sought after each year. Still he is branded the biggest baby killer to sit the Oval Office. I just don't get it. Perhaps we all need to step back sometime and ask ourselves Do we all have to be right?