And yet, in its best moments, "Common Ground" feels like a classic old-school critique: one of those incendiary Salon exhibitions mounted under the noses of the establishment, in this case on a site known in the 17th century as the Commons, a communal pasture for livestock, which is now home to the mayor's headquarters.
Up in the royal box, a pitching wedge from the action, sat Rory McIlroy, doing his best to find common ground with Princess Beatrice and her boyfriend Dave Clark (there was no sign of the other four).
Strong friendships are a keystone of happiness, and best built on common ground.
At its best, the music found common ground among Chopin, Satie, Bill Evans and Antonio Carlos Jobim.
"We should try our best to find the common ground between us," he said, almost rising from his chair.
He understood that conversation often holds the power to convert, that sustained dialogue is the best means of finding common ground.
Iyad Ag Ghali, head of Ansar Dine, discredited by his affiliation with AQIM and MUJAO, is already almost out of the game and his "moderate" rival, Alghabasse Ag Intalla, head of MIA (Islamic Movement of Azawd) is in the best position to find common ground with Paris.
I realized that one of the best forums to reach common ground with anyone, no matter your political bent, is at a concert where ideologies recede into the shadows, where we can form a common bond among each other under the enchantment of a night of great music.
"While we certainly agree that reforms need to be made to our nation's health care system, as governors from both sides of the political aisle, we feel that true and lasting reforms are best approached by finding common ground in a bipartisan fashion".
That's the kind of common ground that the best jazz and the best hip-hop have".
