Jackie DeShannon sang these words many years ago, “What the world needs now is love sweet love, It's the only thing there's just too little of.” These words have never been more needed than today in 2009. We have become a nation, state and community that is deeply divided.

What if the Democrats and Republicans in Congress gave each other a little wiggle room and actually made some generous compromises for the American people?

Barack has white wine and salad with Rush

What if Rush Limbaugh sat down to a cordial lunch with President Barack Obama? Perhaps they could eat delicious salads and drink white wine and come to some sort of understanding about issues like health-care reform.

What if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger would bring all of the state legislators and their families to a picnic at one of our beautiful beaches? Don't you think folks could reach some sort of common ground in such a gorgeous setting that would help the citizens of California?

Anderson? Yes, Glenn? Do you take cream?

What if Anderson Cooper would ask Glenn Beck to coffee and try to talk about the differences and commonalities they have in the news business?

What if the military would seriously sit down to dinner with members of the gay community and talk about the degrading policy of Don't Ask, Don't Tell in the armed services?

What if citizens were more willing to help volunteer in public schools where the teachers are overwhelmed with students who don't speak English as their primary language?

What if the voters of Palm Springs would realize that it was not one person, one mayor or one City Council member that was responsible for the problems in downtown Palm Springs?

It's time to think outside of the hate box

What if we all begin to think outside of the box for a change? We are all more alike than different and we need each other. If we could adopt the song by Burt Bacharach and Hal David into our lives, I believe we could all find more understanding and love within our nation, state, and valley. Vincent van Gogh said it best years ago, “ The more I think about it, the more I realize there is nothing more artistic than to love others.”

Ray M. Smythe lives in Cathedral City and teaches history at the Marywood-Palm Valley School in Rancho Mirage. E-mail him at Rayme49@aol.com