Professor of Political Science
Saint Joseph’s College – New York
Introduction
Every major crisis this country has faced, at the end of the day, required a willingness of elected officials to sit around the table in earnest and work toward arriving at the best solution given the circumstance. Great leaders, whether found in the President, a Senator, or member of the House of Representatives, know firsthand that the pathway to achieving effective public policy when the stakes are very high, and the country is in a state of crisis, is compromise.
In many ways, Talat Hamdani’s family embodies the immigrant dream. Her family emigrated from Pakistan more than 30 years ago after her husband was posted to the United States as a photographer. Impressed by the opportunities at the time, the family settled down and raised children.
