Respect
A published letter declared: "It makes no sense and scares me to think you have voting power ...the most far -fetched and despicable idea I have ever heard in my life... Sometimes it's better not to speak and let people think you are a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt."
We have all felt like saying or writing something similar to this rant. Fortunately, my wife helps me avoid being disrespectful, sarcastic or intolerant of the opinions of others. Personal attacks such as the above can have unintended consequences.
A year ago, I wrote my first letter to an editor and received an anonymous phone call two days after publication. The caller questioned my credibility, but any intent to intimidate me from exercising my First Amendment right; freedom of speech, was unsuccessful to say the least.
The unintended consequence of that call was inspirational, because my first letter would most likely have been my last. Instead at 69 years of age, I was compelled to read more books in the past year than in any year of my entire life. Never would I have realized what a wonderful resource we have in our Four County Library System. I have entered the amazing world of the computer and have this blog with fifty essays and counting.
Liberals and Conservatives and especially young people must not be intimidated by those that don't fully understand the First Amendment is our most important defense against the tyranny of fascism.
Try to focus on concepts and not the person with whom you disagree. By being tolerant of the opinions of others and making an effort to be persuasive, you might become a unifier.
Our current administration seeks division. A unifier listens to the opposition, respects their opinions and seeks compromise as opposed to being divisive.
We have all felt like saying or writing something similar to this rant. Fortunately, my wife helps me avoid being disrespectful, sarcastic or intolerant of the opinions of others. Personal attacks such as the above can have unintended consequences.
A year ago, I wrote my first letter to an editor and received an anonymous phone call two days after publication. The caller questioned my credibility, but any intent to intimidate me from exercising my First Amendment right; freedom of speech, was unsuccessful to say the least.
The unintended consequence of that call was inspirational, because my first letter would most likely have been my last. Instead at 69 years of age, I was compelled to read more books in the past year than in any year of my entire life. Never would I have realized what a wonderful resource we have in our Four County Library System. I have entered the amazing world of the computer and have this blog with fifty essays and counting.
Liberals and Conservatives and especially young people must not be intimidated by those that don't fully understand the First Amendment is our most important defense against the tyranny of fascism.
Try to focus on concepts and not the person with whom you disagree. By being tolerant of the opinions of others and making an effort to be persuasive, you might become a unifier.
Our current administration seeks division. A unifier listens to the opposition, respects their opinions and seeks compromise as opposed to being divisive.
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