Allies

I just read a sentence by Richard Nixon that I agree with. “a politician knows that his friends are not always his allies, and that his adversaries are not always his enemies.”  I was going to say he was a controversial figure, but I do not think he was even that.  He did the wrong thing and paid the price.
I will never justify wrong actions, but I am not one to think that a wrong act makes everything a person said or did wrong.  In the early days of his administration he was lauded.  I just think of myself.  I know I have done the wrong thing at times, but that does not make everything I have ever said or done wrong.
I have sort of realized that something may be said or done with honourable motives, but it will always be seen by another through their own prism.  If the person examining an action is dishonourable, then anything anyone else says or does will be seen as dishonourable.  Even honourable people view the world differently.  When it comes to many things, there are different ways to achieve the same goal.  We are the same, but different.  To me, diversity keeps things interesting.
Why I agree with Nixon’s sentence is I have seen that sort of thing firsthand.  Instead of politician I think it would be just as true to say, “a person.”  One of the things that impresses me about what he said, was that it was said of someone who was not of his party.
I know what I think could be contentious, but I think there are those who do not share my political outlook, who want the same end as me.  That is, the betterment of our country.  They just see a different way of achieving that end.  It does not mean I agree with them, but I will not imagine that I am the only one who wants the best. 
In Australia there was a show on tv I think was called “Kitchen Cabinet.”  In it the presenter would prepare a meal with politicians while getting to know them.  One time the presenter had two pollies on the show.  They were obviously good friends.  One was Liberal and one was Labour.  Despite their differences their friendship was plain to see.
I have a friend who does things different to me.  The end is the same, but the way of getting there is different.  I know when I have been in charge of something my role has been to set the direction and people could chose to come along or not.  When someone else in in charge, my role is hands off the till, and to go along where I choose to.
In this regard my friend was not necessarily my ally, but they are my friend first.