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Both sides of aisle lack common decency

This is in response to a story that was in the Jan. 12 edition of the Mirror, titled “Trump’s attitude alarming” by Washington Post columnist Kathleen Parker.

I found the story by Parker to indeed be alarming, only for different reasons than stated in her column.

As Ms. Parker states, “First a history refresher.”

In 1950, Sen. Joe McCarthy began his infamous McCarthy hearings, which included the persecution of innocent people on the suspicion of being a Communist.

This led to the term “McCarthyism.”

Wikipedia defines McCarthyism as “…reckless and unsubstantiated accusations, as well as public attacks on the character of political opponents.”

I urge you to read that definition again and then go read (or re-read) Parker’s column.

During the past campaign and since the election, there’s been a tremendous increase in these types of columns and editorials from both sides of the political aisle.

It’s time that we as decent moral human beings stop attacking people simply because we disagree with their point of view.

It doesn’t matter if you’re Republican, Democrat or Independent; liberal, conservative or moderate. This type of behavior is unacceptable.

Stating that other people did it, so I’m just getting even or calling people hypocrites because they denounce the “opposition,” but refuse to criticize “their candidate” for similar behavior doesn’t justify these attacks no matter whose side you’re on.

I would ask the management of the Mirror and other news outlets to try and rein in these types of sensational and attacking columns on the Opinion page.

I realize that freedom of the press is important. However, common decency toward our fellow human beings is even more important.

Another history refresher: In 1954 at the end of the McCarthy hearings, attorney Joseph Welsh confronted Sen. McCarthy with the famous line “At long last, have you no sense of decency?”

We all need to be sure that we never give anyone a reason to ask us such a question.

James V. Surkovich

Clearfield

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