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<DIV>Visionaries:</DIV>
<DIV>Keely Mix and I agree on many things, not the least of which is last Friday's disputatio. I also attended, as did my daughter-in-law, Joan Opyr. That evening I wrote a letter to the Daily News about my experience there. </DIV>
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<DIV>"Editor:</DIV>
<DIV>I was privileged this afternoon to watch local politics enjoy its finest hour of the current campaign season. Mark Solomon speaking to New St. Andrews students and faculty at the 4:30 disputatio was a badly needed reminder that in an open society we can have civil dialogue, and treat each other with grace and dignity while not necessarily sharing the same political perspective. Mark's topics included private and public education and a general discussion of property tax. It is difficult to imagine an area more fraught with dangers and yet it worked, and worked brilliantly.</DIV>
<DIV>Mark Solomon did what many local candidates won't do. He spoke to an audience that arguably will not be supporting his candidacy. He answered thoughtful, intelligent questions and addressed sensitive topics. By opening this dialogue he sets an example that other candidates should follow. He showed that he is accessible, honest, and open about who he is and what he believes. </DIV>
<DIV>I would also like to complement the faculty and students of New St. Andrews who invited Mark to speak and listened respectfully to what he had to say. Today's disputatio was a beacon of light in a bleak political season. Thanks to all of you who took part, and a special thank you to Mark for his courage, his integrity, and his willingness to listen to others. Mark welded more than steel sculptures today, he began to build a bridge across the chasm in this community...just as I believe he will in the State Legislature. </DIV>
<DIV>Rosemary Huskey"</DIV></DIV>
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<DIV>And, thanks, Keely, for reminding us that integrity is more than words, its actions. </DIV>
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<DIV>Rose Huskey</DIV>
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<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Verdana size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10">"One cannot level one's moral lance at every evil in the universe. There are just too many of them. But you can do something, and the difference between doing something and doing nothing is everything." Daniel Berrigan<BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><BR></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>