One of the best things about 2005 may be that it leaves a lot of room for improvement.

The theme of 2005 probably can be summed up in one word: conflict. Hurricane Katrina and her less powerful siblings made big news in 2005 by spurring not only a conflict between humans and nature but between political rivals and, many believe, racial groups. The war in Iraq has been a conflict not only between U.S. troops and insurgent forces but also between American Republicans and Democrats.

To say it’s “us” against “them” may be an understatement. Political and philosophical conflict seems to have permeated every corner of our nation. It’s the haves vs. the have-nots, the liberals vs. the conservatives, the religious right vs. the secular left. In old West parlance, “if you’re not with us, you’re agin’ us.”

As we said, there’s a lot of room for improvement.

In his book “Bowling Alone,” Robert Putnam talks about the importance of social capital, which he defines as the trust, reciprocity and cooperation associated with social networks. He describes two types of social capital: “bonding” networks that connect people who are similar, and “bridging” networks that cross societal lines and connect people who are different.

As a society, we seem to be mastering the “bonding” aspect of the equation by ensconcing ourselves in safe groups of people who think and act much like ourselves. Where we seem to be falling short is in the “bridging” part that helps us trust, share information and cooperate with people who are different than we are or have different ideas from our own.

So, as uncomfortable as 2005 seemed to be for many of us, it’s possible that the best resolution for 2006 might be for all of us to make ourselves a bit more uncomfortable. In that spirit we want to suggest a few resolutions that may be painful but ultimately positive:

¢ Ask some people you disagree with why they feel the way they do and then bite your tongue and listen, really listen, to how they respond.

¢ During the conversation, don’t think of how you’re going to argue your point; look for issues on which the two of you might actually agree.

¢ Let go of the idea that the only way you can win is for the other person to lose. It’s much better for everyone to win – ideally at the same time.

Sound a little idealistic? Probably. Not only are we carrying over a pile of unresolved conflicts from 2005, but 2006 will bring elections and other bones of contention we haven’t even imagined. But it’s the new year, and a new year is all about hope. Our hope for each of you – and all of us together – is a year filled with joyful experiences, meaningful interactions and successful ventures.

Happy New Year.