EDITORIAL: A second chance to do things right

Recent events at our local town hall meeting were disappointing, to say the least. When citizens and elected officials gather, there's an opportunity for meaningful exchange that can strengthen our democracy. Unfortunately, that opportunity was squandered. 

Now, our community has two more chances to engage with legislators. The Democrats are hosting a town hall at Templin's on the River today at 2:30 p.m. Meanwhile, Republicans will hold a legislative wrap-up at Candlelight Christian Fellowship on March 29 at 10 a.m. Though tickets for the latter event have been claimed, both gatherings represent valuable opportunities we shouldn't waste. 

These forums exist for a reason: to close the gap between citizens and those who represent them. When conducted properly, they allow constituents to learn from their legislators, both past and present, and receive unfiltered responses. They help legislators understand the real-world impacts of their policies. And they remind everyone involved that beyond political labels, we're neighbors with shared stakes in our community's future. 

But these benefits only materialize when we approach these events with the right mindset. Coming with closed minds virtually guarantees we'll leave with the same prejudices we arrived with. 

For those attending either event, consider what you hope to learn rather than what point you want to make. Take notes. Follow up if you can. And perhaps most crucially, recognize that everyone in the room – regardless of political affiliation – deserves basic acknowledgement. 

Our democracy depends on citizens who can disagree without becoming disagreeable. Let's use these upcoming forums to demonstrate that such engagement is the standard to which we hold ourselves in this community. 

The path forward isn't through shouting or intimidation but through genuine dialogue. Let's not waste these opportunities to show that our community, and our democracy, deserve better.