Dear Editor:
I don’t think it’s particularly controversial to say that in recent years, America’s political discourse has become increasingly more course and highly polarized. We live in a society today where high-ranking politicians and public figures use curse words and engage in ad hominem attacks to infinity. Unfortunately, we the people have followed that lead when engaging each other. Perhaps this is an inevitable result of the ability to hide behind a keyboard on social media, but I fear that it has reached a breaking point that threatens to undermine our relationships and our society.
To be clear, the infection is bipartisan (or, if you prefer, non-partisan). Terms like “Trump Derangement Syndrome” and “MAGAts” are used loosely and frequently. And no matter how much these terms may be deeply held by the various parties, they have the impact of dehumanizing the other individual and avoiding a conversation on actual differences regarding policy priorities by government on the national, state and local level. Today, we regularly see people (and groups of people) targeted as “mentally ill” and “retards.” We see religions mocked and even attacked as non-religions. Further, and disturbingly, the assignment of a kind of collective guilt on our social or political enemies is rampant. I think everyone understands that assigning to all individuals of a group the worse possible characteristics of the extremes of that group (whether real or imagined) is morally wrong and intellectually dishonest, and yet it happens all too frequently. I believe continuing down such a path will not end well for anyone.
In some ways, one can say that Page County seems a bit isolated at times from this kind of polarization purely because it is an area that seems socially and politically homogeneous. But that homogeneity is an illusion and always has been. Thus, when we attack the other in unkind ways, we aren’t just attacking “those people,” which is bad enough, we are attacking our neighbor. In the religious tradition I come from, treating our neighbors as we would want to be treated is the second greatest commandment — and, in truth, that’s a concept that’s shared in some way by all of us no matter the background.
Closer to home, the referendum on redistricting is thankfully ending. There have been legitimate arguments on both sides of that debate, as there are on nearly every political debate, and if you looked closely, you might have been able to discern them. But I fear some of the polarization and ugliness that was evident during that debate will linger. Despite that, I hope that we will all see that we have more in common than our differences and we all share this place that we love. Nobody’s perfect, and God knows I’m not, but in the end, I hope we can all recognize that we are all neighbors and we ought to be treating each other accordingly.
Christopher Gould ~ Stanley, Va.
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PREVIOUS LETTERS
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Call for public involvement in deciding how to use the county’s Goodrich Road property
Christopher, I applaud your willingness and honesty in speaking out loud in a public forum, unlike those who use social media to discourse. It takes integrity to do so. I fight the battle every day of how we are ruining the values of what this nation was founded on, clouding it with politics and personal opinion.
To be clear, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with politics and personal opinion – what’s a problem is when politics and personal opinion become divisive and nasty. I’m old enough to remember a time when even politicians from opposite parties and diametrically opposite views managed to work together for the common good and somehow were able to not call each other nasty names and question each other’s patriotism, mental health, or religious/ethical integrity. I wish we could go back to those times!
Christopher, I voiced what I thought was a positive reaction to your letter the editor. I also remember happier times living in an America that valued and protected the basic concept of democracy. I agree that it’s gotten mean, nasty and ugly. It’s going to take the PEOPLE to get back to the basics. I don’t agree that it’s NOT about the POLITICIANS or personally biased opinions.
It *was* a positive reaction, and I appreciate it!
I’m sorry Christopher. I don’t have very much at all in common with democrats. I don’t think people who openly break our immigration laws should be able to stay here under any circumstances. I don’t think the government should try to limit how I protect my family. I don’t think there’s an attack on the LGBTQ community. Trump’s been in office for 1 1/2 terms and he hasn’t rounded up trans people or their kids as I saw LGBTQ people in this community claim was going to happen to them bc of Trump. I don’t think it’s ok to pardon your family members. I don’t think it’s ok to tell me that the virus came from a wet market and then act like I should believe anything else you actually say. I don’t have anything in common with people who call J6 an insurrection bc no one has ever been charged with the crime of insurrection. I especially don’t agree with those people bc they are the same ones who caused billions in damage to major cities across this country for an entire summer. The democrats are a violent, pro-criminal, pro illegal alien, propagandized cult who still thinks Joe Biden was “cogent.” And I invite any democrat to dispute anything I said here. The Democratic Party and its followers can’t be taken seriously anymore.
Honestly, there’s a great deal to dispute in what you say, but I think all that is beside the point and perhaps you’ve lost track of the point of my letter.
And as usual with Democrats Chris, your cult has zero to actually debate bc your argument points are frankly embarrassing and for the vast majority of the time, you can’t even say them out loud bc they simply can’t be taken seriously. Please, I dare you to provide me with any actual evidence or data that prove my comment false.
You are responding to my bipartisan appeal for civility by demonstrating some of the very lack of civility I’m bemoaning. I’m not sure why you can’t see that, but it hardly seems appropriate here.
Actually, you DO have a lot in common with Democrats…and Dems have a lot in common w Republicans, including you. We all want good healthcare, decent housing, a strong community, our kids and grandkids to get a good education, our continued rights of free speech and religion, clean air & water, healthy food, functioning public services (from airports to highways to electric grids), safe pharmaceuticals, opportunities for employment. Certainly people across the political spectrum have different views on the best policies to achieve those goals, but the shared goals reflect our commmonality.
I also agree with Chris Gould (who authored the initial letter) that name-calling, stereotyping, and dehumanizing others are not constructive.
Skip, that’s not what Dems want. When you import 10 million illegal aliens and then say you’re concerned about healthcare, cost of living and housing, you’re lying. If you cared about those things, you wouldn’t want open borders and the illegal immigration of millions.
Jeff, I suggest you shut off AM hate talk radio or Fox or Newsmax or OAN or whatever you’re listening to and watching. Everything you posted is pure MAGA propaganda drivel. Comparing a few violent protests in the summer of 2020, which were by the way instigated by members of the Oath Keepers, Proud Boys, Patriot Prayer, Patriot Front, and other PROFA groups, to the attempted coup that Trump incited on January 6, 2021 is an apples and oranges comparison. And the Government under Trump is doing all they can to invade on a woman’s right to choose…so much for “keep the Federal Government out of our GD lives,” right? I could go on but your infantile Steven Miller-esque retort to Christopher’s thoughtful post deserved calling out.
Jack. BLM and other organizations like it burned down police stations and took over a federal court house in Portland. Remember CHAZ in Seattle? That was an actual insurrection. I’ll ask again. Who from J6 was charged with sedition? Also, if you don’t want to use Fox News, use Google. The SPLC funded those hate groups you libs cried about in Charlottesville.
Mr Gould and Horner. You may have missed, or ignored, that the SPLC, the Southern Poverty Law Center, was just indicted on eleven charges for sending multi million dollar donations to various KKK and other hate organizations so they would be better able to sponsor marches, riots and other unrest. They did this to spur donations to the SPLC. Then there’s Ilhan Omar cussing out a reporter for asking about her evolving financial statements. See link. https://www.foxnews.com/media/ilhan-omar-calls-reporter-stupid-refuses-explain-financial-discrepancies-vulgar-outburst
Citing a link to Fox Entertainment as a source is about as credible as National Enquirer, but thanks for playing.
Mr Horner. Why you’re welcome sir.
How can I get all of you to stop encouraging a new civil war based on the very different values of the Republican and Democratic parties today? It’s not the North vs the South anymore. Where would we all move to? I see no choice but to make what we have work. I can cite MANY elected officials, on both sides, who messed up. Talk. Don’t throw c__ap around. Hear one another and find common ground. Vote to elect candidates who are not ruled by their party but care about the concept of preserving Democracy for future generations. PLEASE.
Paula D. Ever hear of the American Revolution? The seige of Vienna? Malta?
Robert, Though I hate to and know better than to say it, you are the most intolerant person I’ve ever encountered. Do you pray? Do you have kids and grandkids struggling to survive life as it is right now? Have you ever loved? I’ll promise PVN to shut my mouth when you promise to shut yours. History is about the past. I’m trying, while I’m still here, to make a future for others.
Paula D. Very acute observation Paula. My problem stems largely from being very small, (4′ 8″) in stature and weak looking. Women have always directed their scorn at me. I don’t know how much more I can take. Can you?