Express opinions in respectful way

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, February 9, 2011

The Herald opinion page offers insight into local thought and news, but there appears to be a growing drift toward an imbalanced preference for emotional and divisive right-wing letters.

The Friday letter, “Case d

emands timely execution” was a case in point: I disagree with his position on capital punishment, but it is a common position and he has every right to it. Where he — and by extension The Herald — step over into unbalanced rhetoric is where Mr. Beck states, “It’s time … for those bleeding heart liberals who just choked on their morning coffee from the previous statement take another drink and wake up.”

I am willing to respect the writer’s views, though I strongly disagree. But he, and The Herald lately, seem unprepared to respect mine. When we start calling each other names (“bleeding-heart liberals”), making emotional generalizations with no basis is reality (I did not choke on my morning coffee), and implying that the other person’s view is less legitimate than ours (“take another drink and wake up”) — when we do these things, we do a great disservice to democracy. By all means, express your opinion that a murderer should be punished — but don’t poison the conversation with gratuitous attacks on other readers.

Is it too late to ask for a more balanced, civil, fact-based conversation, rather than silly accusations, generalities and dismissing each other’s experiences and opinions?

Nathaniel Brown
Edmonds