Finding common ground

South Bend Tribune: Talking to one another, seeking common ground, never will resolve the differences between those who believe women should have the right to choose an abortion and those who believe abortion is murder. The gulf is just too wide and the feelings are too strong.

We do think, however, that those who disagree with President Barack Obama on abortion, and those who agree with him, can find common ground regarding his upcoming visit to the University of Notre Dame.

An honor

Obama was offered the honor of delivering the May 17 commencement address. He did Notre Dame the honor of accepting. For both these facts, we are pleased — and especially so for the graduating class. Its members will be sent forth in life with the eloquent words of the leader of the free world. It will be a wonderful and memorable event for them.

All the same, strong feelings on this issue were to be expected. What wasn’t expected ... is the conduct of people who have traveled to South Bend from other places with no purpose other than to make trouble and grab headlines.

No one can stop anti-abortion activist Randall Terry from vowing to turn the Notre Dame campus into a “political mud pit” and the commencement ceremony into a “circus.” But we can, as a community, show our shared disdain for his words. This is a community where not everyone agrees. But it also is a community where people can disagree without expressions of hatred.