Dear Editor,

(In response to the Don’t Rush Me column, “All’s quiet on the Michigan front (or is it?),” from the January 20, 2021 edition of The Clarkston News.)
Yes, it’s quiet for now, but it likely won’t last long!
Your comments made me momentarily nostalgic, but the reality is we’ve never really had a society that believed or practiced “say something nice or not at all,” even if that was the uttered guidance from dad and mom and the “reverend.”
Social media may have brought more of our vile candor out into the open – giving an appearance of a now harsher society – but folks have always been airing their nasty comments, suspicions and views – gossiping after church, on the golf course, at the office water cooler, or disguised under white hoods and sheets.
It’s OK to be a bigot or sexist so long as you don’t use the “N” or “B” words, or at least not too openly or loudly if you did – that kind of thing.
It all seemed more polite to some, especially those who wanted to pretend, but only because it was more clandestine.
Even newspapers protected elites from unpleasant inquiry and factual reporting.
Yes, it is probably nice to be more civil in our expressions, but mean-spirited ideas, policies and dogma are not made more palatable or prettier with smooth talk or silent acquiescence.
Consider a Klan or Nazi rally, or the hypocrisy of a concept like purported “Christians for Trump.”
As for cancel culture, I’m all for it.
Wealthy folks and political elites have always known that money talks, and it dictates our national and foreign policy. Why should we fund businesses, celebrities or entities that use their clout to undermine our own interests?
Well, not every expression of disagreement warrants a boycott, but you know we are particularly sensitive bunch when a school superintendent no less whines publicly about the “unfairness” of vaccine availability and suggests a conspiracy with no evidence – although he plans to now commence a search.
Really?
Folks in places like New York City will be advocating that fairness warrants congested city dwellers getting vaccine access first while rural community folk mind their cows in silence.
We have secret, generously funded political action committees to manipulate public opinion, so what is wrong with everyday Joe or Sue boycotting a business that doesn’t follow COVID protocol, or support their views on civil rights, reproductive choice, community development, taxation or anything else?
We should encourage open exchanges of diverse opinion.
It is sad if some shy souls feel reluctant to share their views and risk having their feelings hurt with unkind criticism, but a grown adult who is too embarrassed or fearful to associate their own name with their own expressed or published opinion, or unwilling or unable to explain or defend it, is simply too pathetic for words.
A kinder, gentler society might be nice for a while, but things might soon get boring, or even oppressive.
Most significant movements in this country came about only as a result of some rigorous, if not impolite, exchanges.
The Revolutionary War, end of slavery, suffrage, civil rights, labor movement, end of Vietnam War all come to mind.
So while the rancor can be unpleasant and we probably should strive for smaller, less frequent doses, it won’t be good for it to fade completely.
Your comments have caused me to be more circumspect, so I’m being more succinct than usual in my comments.

Sincerely,
Mike Fetzer
Clarkston