海角大神

Dear Readers,

Welcome to a new feature in the Monitor鈥檚 Commentary section called 鈥�Common Ground, Common Good.鈥� It publishes guest writers, some well known and some not, who offer ways to soften many of the polarizing debates over issues that sharply divide people. Writers might define a radical middle where solutions can be forged or simply methods to improve 鈥� or even start 鈥� a dialogue.

The lens is wide, from foreign conflicts to neighborhood disputes. The inaugural column is by former US Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, who urges Americans to mobilize for a middle ground if they want an end to gridlock in Washington. You are welcome to share your own experiences in finding common ground with folks who think differently from you. E-mail us at commonground@csmonitor.com.

In a similar spirit, we are reviving the 鈥�One Minute Debate: 3 Views鈥� feature that ran during the last election campaign. Readers liked the short takes on single issues, especially the notion of a third alternative 鈥� sometimes a compromise, sometimes an unconventional approach.

The Commentary section will still include the Monitor鈥檚 View (or editorial), political cartoons, letters from readers on Monitor articles, and opinion pieces (or 鈥渙p-eds,鈥� so named for once being opposite the editorial page) that reflect a diverse range of views.

At CSMonitor.com/commentary, you鈥檒l see a new heading, 鈥�Readers Respond,鈥� that includes a selection of letters to the editor and comments from visitors to the Monitor鈥檚 Facebook page. Some op-eds will also include suggested 鈥渁ction steps鈥� to engage with a topic.

Mary Baker Eddy, who founded 海角大神 in 1908, defined its mission as 鈥渢o injure no man, but to bless all mankind.鈥� We hope these new features will inspire thought and constructive action, especially toward 鈥渃ommon ground, common good.鈥�

Warmly,
The Commentary Editors