Let’s Try To Work Together

To the Editor:

The campaign season is winding down. As of this writing, we’re less than a week from the finish line of this long and arduous process that started much earlier than is reasonable, and has been more disrespectful than many expected. Where has our civility gone?

We put the opposing worldview in a box as “not patriotic,” or “traitors,” or plain old ignorant beyond the point of trying to have an intelligent discourse. I’m not going to exclude myself from that, even, because I know there have been times where I’ve done the third one. But we can’t continue demonizing people just because they don’t agree with us. We need to stop looking at the differences between us all, and look at what we have in common.

I believe it’s safe to say that both Lisa Romano and Mitch Bolinsky love Newtown. It’s a safe bet that they wouldn’t be running for the General Assembly seat if they hated Newtown. Likewise, Chris Murphy and Linda McMahon both love Connecticut. And lastly, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Tom Hoefling, Merlin Miller, Virgil Goode, Dr Jill Stein, Rocky Anderson, Gary Johnson, Tom Stevens, Peta Lindsay, Rosanne Barr, Lowell “Jack” Fellure, Andre Barnett, Stewart Alexander, Jerome “Jerry” White, and James Harris all love the United States of America. Yes, I did list all the third party candidates on ballots in more than one state.

So please, stop insulting people just because of their party affiliation, or voting preference, or because someone else just disagrees with you. No matter who wins their respective positions on Tuesday, let’s all just at least try to work together. When we work together, we all win, regardless of who is in the seat with a title.

Matt Cole

9 Scenic View Drive, Newtown                                 October 31, 2012