As I see our students return to college, I’m spending some time reflecting on the most important lesson I learned there.

Let me tell you about it.

During my upperclassman years, I found myself in the classroom of Dr. L. Susan Williams. The class was one that could be taken for either woman’s study credit or for sociology. I was in the sociology arena (it was my “outside concentration”).

On the very first day of class, Dr. Williams set out the ground rules. And they were iron-clad.

I don’t have the exact words, but it was along these lines: We will have discussions and we will not all agree. Having different opinions is OK and expected. We will discuss our different points of view. We will do so with respect. We will listen to what the speaker is SAYING and we will think and respond to their words. We will criticize or poke holes in ideas, but not in people. It is possible to have a heated discussion, yet to retain decorum and respect.

It was definitely one of my favorite college courses. As I watch our political system continue to evolve, I wish Dr. Williams had a national platform that she could stand on and give us all that pep talk. To tell us it’s OK to have differing opinions, views, values and ideals, and that someone having a different point of view doesn’t make them bad.

It’s disheartening to see politics become so embroiled with bitter, harsh and inflammatory language.

I’m sad when I hear people say they have lost friends over differences of opinion. A little dose of Dr. Williams could go a long way in some of these instances.

Karen Bonar Publisher

Editor’s note: Sometimes, I write an editorial before seeing the editorial cartoon. We at the I-R are lucky enough to have a staff cartoonist. I never know what Bill will come up with. This week is one of those happy accidents when we both decided to tackle politics — me with the word and Bill with his art.