Stop the personal attacks when sharing opinions

In the June 14 Bee, two letter writers attacked their fellow human beings.  One writer was sarcastic throughout, using words like “stupid,” “panties all in a bunch,” “incite the natives” and “asinine.”

She said people who listen to Rush Limbaugh (a tiny group of crazies, she implied) are “hate mongers” different from “the rest of us,” (implied as the vast majority).  According to the Washington Post, Time Magazine, CNN and ABC News, Limbaugh has 14 to 20 million weekly listeners (no one is certain).  That big a number makes Limbaugh listeners mainstream, not a cult.

The letter writer she included (by name) in her attack (because he has a different opinion from hers of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor), wrote sarcastic content, too, in his letter of June 11.

Also on June 14, another letter writer, at the very end of her letter, insulted Carl Stout, who wrote about the Obama birth certificate controversy.  It was a gratuitous personal attack.

Finally, certain people promote tolerance and diversity but have no tolerance whatsoever for diversity of opinion, if that opinion disagrees with theirs.  Do these writers think their opinions are right, and anyone who disagrees is wrong?  If so, what is the source of their absolute rightness?  Why are their opinions “righter” than anyone else’s?

Could we please have a civil debate? Why do we insult and ridicule anyone who disagrees with us?  Can’t we just state the facts and evidence for our opinions and quit the personal attacks?

JOANNA FUCHS

Cocolalla