Reach out to those who would divide us

I applaud our newcomer (three months) to Coeur d’Alene, Charlene Baron, for her desire and willingness to get involved in politics at the local level, and I agree with her that it is important. As former House Speaker Tip O’Neil once quipped: “All politics is local.”

I too have been willing to be involved in local politics as my four successful and one unsuccessful campaigns for office would attest. One of the problems in our society is that we have too many who are unwilling to get involved. But, I would like to address, as an old-timer who has lived here for more than 40 years, the manner in which she promoted her pro-Trump rally

Ms. Baron may not be aware of the long history in our community of fighting hate speech and at the same time protecting the rights of all, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or political ideology. We have tried hard to promote the ideal of community well-being and civility in public dialogue, encouraging our citizens to make their case in a positive way, refraining from the use of derogatory language and stereotyping. Regretfully, we don’t always reach that standard, and from what I read in the Press article, Ms. Baron failed to reach it also.

From my experience in the Legislature I know the term RINO is a derogatory term used by Conservative or far right Republicans against moderate Republicans, who though they share the same party, don’t see the issues through exactly the same lens. Use of terms such as: criminal Democrats, socialist agenda, elites and the squad, which refers to women of color, are derogatory and guilty of perpetuating false stereotypes. They do not bring unity to our nation or community; they sow divisiveness, a plague that threatens our very democracy.

In a wonderful book entitled “The Gardens of Democracy,” the authors use the analogy of practicing good garden techniques to ensure a good garden. They go on to describe the kind of practices and thinking we as citizens should use to encourage the growth and health of our democracy. A thoughtful chapter entitled “Great Citizenship” contains the phrase “Society becomes how you behave.” That strikes home to me. They wrote that “… citizenship is, quite simply, the work of being in the public. It encompasses behaviors like civility and courtesy.”

My belief is that people have more in common, more that unites them, or should unite them, than what separates them. We can generally agree on what the problems are, but may strongly disagree on the solutions, and that is where engaged, civil, respectful dialogue is important. Republicans are people, Democrats are people, and those of other political leanings are people. We should be speaking to one another instead of demonizing each other.

Ms. Baron. I hope your rally was a success for you, and that it was patriotic and positive as you wished it to be. I hope you will continue, as we all should, in that vein. I also invite you to attend the Democratic luncheon at the Iron Horse every Friday at noon. You will meet some well-informed, delightful people who just share a different perspective than you, and they are not criminal.

•••

George Sayler is a Coeur d’Alene resident and former teacher and state legislator.