Dear Editor,
In today’s public discourse, too many act as if only their beliefs matter. But what gives any side the moral high ground? Not slogans or party labels, but honesty, accountability, and respect for truth. These qualities are not partisan—they are choices each of us must prove through our actions
Why, then, the need to call people names? Insults don’t strengthen arguments; they reveal the absence of respect and accountability. When respect disappears, dialogue collapses. When honesty is abandoned, trust erodes. When accountability is ignored, communities fracture. Claims of virtue collapse the moment they are tested against reality. I believe that I have never referred to anyone with any kind of slur or attack. I respect your right to believe your way.
Our civic life depends on something deeper than tribal loyalty. It depends on citizens willing to listen, to fact‑check, and to hold themselves and their leaders accountable. Respect, honesty, and accountability are not luxuries—they are the foundation of democracy itself.
Susan Stone
