Dear Editor,

The anonymous letter “When does the M-15 madness end?” (Clarkston News, August 12, 2020) from the nameless “Clarkston Reader” was interesting, and raised some potentially thought-provoking provoking points, albeit weakened by the presentation and lack of context.
It engendered tearful memories of all the Main Street Clarkston homeowners, enriched by their privileged locations, who now seek to ease their lives by restricting the speed and volume of traffic now so distracting and annoying as they rock on their porches snd lounge in their living rooms.
Oh, the suffering!
We can end it if only we disguise their noise inconvenience under the auspices of “safety” – inconveniencing drivers and commerce, and shoving the traffic onto the streets of other, less privileged neighborhood homeowners. After all, connected restaurant owners get their way…
My own opinion is that one should have given carefully considered thought to traffic before selecting a homesite on a major state thoroughfare, and should not expect travelers to be inconvenienced by your subsequent noise, speed and traffic laments via your advocacy of new rules and regulations to suit your newly discovered worries and whims.
One solution for your failure to adapt is to move. Millions of Americans do it annually, either by need or choice.
But of greater concern to me is the media’s increasing publication of anonymous editorial and reader comments, where weak, intimidated, cowardly and pathetic souls proclaim their quiet but strident views – opinions openly expressed without backbone or fortitude, and without risk of analysis, question or criticism.
The practice sets a terrible precedent for our youth, for whom we spend immense amounts in taxes and personal funds to promote the value and virtues of free speech and accountability in a democracy.
If your views are so threatening or scary to you, perhaps you should consider keeping them to yourself, or at least shared only among your closeted, quiet friends until you develop stamina, conscience and at least a modicum of backbone and bravery to stand up and be counted, proud of your considered opinion and name.
Meanwhile, newspapers and social media should not enable your weakness and/or misguided motive.

Sincerely,
Mike Fetzer
Clarkston