Letter to the editor: We need open dialogue and less exaggerated hyperbole in this time
To the editor,
Subject: the recent letters, and one in particular: “Instead of complaining about imaginary rights, help us all get through this crisis”
The inability to have conversations without exaggerated hyperbolic responses is one of the reasons our society is finding it difficult to talk to each other these days. We overreact and use inflated rhetoric to make our points, which then spawns a similar reaction. I’m only going to address a couple of the exaggerated hyperbolic responses; however the letter is full of them.
The Second Amendment is not “imaginary” it’s a simple fact; it exists. How it’s being interpreted is basis for plenty of court cases, some settled and some not. My intention is not to defend or argue for or against those interpretations here. But I simply want to say the hyperbolic response to that particular amendment, or any constitutional right, using the word imaginary is not true nor is it helpful to conversations.
Likewise, simply bringing up constitutional rights for discussion does not make that “complaining”. Can we have a civil discussion without hyperbolic negative labels? I think we can. But unfortunately, it seems increasingly difficult to do. As a side note, I also encourage those who post replies to these letters to refrain from hyperbolic name-calling.
The subject letter assumes a binary choice, in essence you are either complaining or helping. This is a false choice; we can have discussions and help at the same time. I can help by following the health experts’ guidelines, while having a discussion about constitutional rights. They are not mutually exclusive; we’re doing it right now. I’m sitting in my house and have been minimizing my trips to town, while writing this article.
There is a question most small businesses are asking right now; it needs to be asked and discussed. That is, how can we again do two things at once? How can we actually allow more businesses to reopen without substantial risk to the public? The health experts have allowed some businesses to operate, surely there are more that can as well. Simply discussing the possibility of opening a business does not mean anyone is asking for “the right to infect” their fellow citizens.
We seemed to have slowed the viral contagion while simultaneously creating an economic contagion. We have friends and neighbors out there who are being financially destroyed. We can fight the spread of COVID-19 while planning how and when to open more businesses. Surely, we can do two things at once, let’s open that dialogue!
Keith Belmont,
Paso Robles
Editor’s note: Letters to the editor are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Paso Robles Daily News or its staff. We welcome letters from local residents regarding relevant local topics. To submit one, click here.
