Each week, this section will take us away from the pace of daily headlines to consider the broader currents shaping our civic life. At a time when national conversation often asks us to see our neighbors as opponents, this space offers something different: a chance to step back and remember what we still share.
In earlier centuries, the public square was not just a physical place in a town. It was where neighbors gathered to exchange ideas, debate decisions, share news, and consider the direction of their