Archive: Opinions

Our nation is divided. We seem to have adopted a 21st century trench warfare of words by which we yield no ground nor accept any opinion other than the one we believe to be the truth. From all sides, the true believers shout, threaten, and discredit the other, vilifying those who do not adhere to their particular ideology.

This division rests upon the way our leaders express their beliefs and explain how problems exist in society. Our public understanding of the truth becomes tainted by the whims of those who speak before they think. Each branch of our government-Executive, Legislative, and Judicial-has abandoned civility and the rule of law to promote their version of the truth. Fear, bullying, and mob mentality, behavior once associated with dictatorial regimes, now sets the tone for our public discourse.

When those in leadership resort to conspiracy theories, threats, and hate speech, society quickly follows their lead and takes their words to heart. In the most extreme cases, these words encourage actions that often lead to horrific consequences. Last week's mail bombs and the shootings at the Tree of Life Synagogue remind us of the crimes individuals will commit in the name of "truth."

The preamble to the Declaration of Independence reminds us of our values and the truth we seek. "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all are created equal, endowed with certain inalienable rights-life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." No individual or political party possesses the whole truth, rather, all of us, the "We", engaging in civil discourse, achieve the goal of establishing the truth.

I hope those in leadership roles will change the rhetoric and tone of discourse by eliminating inflammatory hate speech and reestablish reason, civility and common sense as we discuss, debate, and declare the truths we hold.

Rev. Matthew P. Binkewicz
Lansing, NY
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