January 22, 2019: Great first date * Letter to the Editor * OPINION * Del Rio News-Herald




Letter to the Editor,

Great first date 

The Democrats and the Republicans should view compromising on border security and the government shutdown as going on a first date.

The American people think that both of you should get together. They have arranged for both of you to go out to dinner and a movie. Let’s make the best of it and not disappoint the American people.  

Maybe it’s been a long time since you’ve both been on a first date and have forgotten what it’s like to compromise. Let me refresh your memory. 

First you listen to what the person says and then you carefully consider what they want. And likewise, the other person listens to you and they carefully consider what it is that you want. And then by listening, speaking, dialoging, debating, making concessions along the way, you eventually come to a consensus.

First you decide where you are going out to eat dinner. Let’s say the Democrats want to go to a pizza parlor and eat a variety of different topping pizzas and the Republicans want to go to a steakhouse and eat steak and potatoes. You compromise and decide to go to a cafeteria where you both get to select what you want to eat and you both get to eat something that you like. A cafeteria is not a steakhouse or a pizza parlor but it is a good place to eat dinner.

Then you have to decide what movie you are going to go see. Let’s say the Democrats want to see “Second Act”, a romantic-comedy starring Jennifer Lopez and the Republicans want to go see “The Mule”, a crime-drama starring Clint Eastwood. You compromise and decide on “The Upside”, a comedy-drama starring Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston. 

The movie “The Upside” is both a comedy and a drama. After the movie is over you are both glad that you went to see it. You both thoroughly enjoyed the movie.  

Compromise - Try it you’ll like it! A couple of concessions and you’ll have a great first date.

Marian Casillas, Ed.D.
Del Rio, Texas