Letter: Turn the page

Published 12:15 am Thursday, August 29, 2024

“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.” Those words are from President Abraham Lincoln.

After years that have brought forward an ugly and divisive political climate, it appears we are starting to see the better side of our nature. I say that because crowd sizes are diminishing, and people are walking out on political speeches that focus on negativity and a litany of grievances, that are filled with insult after insult and lie after lie.

Seems many have grown tired of mocking, abusive, hateful speech, and instead want normalcy, civility, a focus on issues. We’d like the tone of American politics to be something we can be proud of, for political conversations to have a baseline of respect and honesty.

Most of us are not straight, white, Christian men. Diversity is who we are; a variety of lived experiences, perspectives and ideas contributes to America’s greatness. I will be so happy to turn the page on dismissive, demeaning and mean-spirited personal attacks based on appearance, race, gender, etc. It remains to be seen if we can get there, but I’m hopeful. It feels like time.

CAROL MERWIN

Astoria