Letters selection favors the fringe

There’s a national call to insure that our public debate take a more “civil” tone. It’s long overdue.

Most of us would agree that it’s OK to disagree. It’s OK to be passionate. But it’s not OK to treat each other (for the most part complete strangers) with hostility or the language of violence.

If this emerging call to civility is to take root, it must spread beyond elected officials and political system participants. A great starting place at the local level is the daily Herald’s Letters to the Editor page. Every day, there are letters expressing strong opinions and positions. And I like that. Many letters, however, are filled with sarcasm, name calling and complete disdain for someone or something. That’s disappointing — and generally causes me to stop reading.

If the intent of the published letters is to disgust, appall or dismiss others, then the letters selection process is working well. If, however, the intent is to offer readers thoughtful, considered argument, then the process needs fine tuning. May I add a voice to encourage The Herald to step up its civility criteria?

I believe the overwhelming majority of Herald subscribers and periodic readers are civil. Yet, the letters page continues to gather at the fringe. It would be good to see our local newspaper stand as a leading example to help change the tone of the public discourse.

Paul Kaftanski
Snohomish