Letter to the editor: Civility lost in political disagreement

I was surprised recently when a stranger called me an “(expletive)hole.” I was watering the flowers on my porch. As she took her early morning stroll, she looked directly at me and said, “(expletive)hole!” She did so three times. She wanted to be sure I knew what she was saying and to whom.

We’ve never had a conversation. We’ve only seen each other from a distance as she walks down our block every day. Only people who know me well should feel comfortable referring to me in such a way. Then I realized why she would say such an uncivil thing. I have a “Veterans for Trump” sign in my yard.

It’s amazing how gratitude is made conditional. When one is not of the “correct” political position, all gratitude and civility are withheld.

Over the last decade or so, there’s been a real change in public expression of thanks for our military, both veterans and active duty. “Thank you for your service” is the customary phrase used by many. It’s a welcome change. Having served from 1967-71, a time when there was a total lack of gratitude for anything and anyone military, it’s good to experience much-delayed gratitude for doing so.

It is unfortunate that a small inanimate sign should evoke such a vile response from a passerby. It’s not likely that any civil discussion can be had when one party begins it with the word “(expletive)hole!” Political discourse has become just coarse.

Ken Bossart

Southwest Greensburg