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A few years ago, a local man accused Heather Scott of being a bully as he strongly opposed her point of view. Over the past month, a local woman has repeatedly used the word bully in reference to the gun rights issue. Seemingly, any person who disagrees with her is a bully. Who really are the bullies?

“Unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children …”: stopbullying.gov. “Abuse and mistreatment of someone vulnerable by someone stronger, more powerful, etc”: Merriam-Webster Dictionary. “One who habitually seeks to harm or intimidate”: Oxford Dictionary.

Jimmy Kimmel and some news people who have criticized a recent on-air message by Sinclair Broadcasting news personnel. CNN contributor Joan Walsh attacked Kyle Kashuv for his not siding with some of his MSD high school classmates. The NY Supreme Court Appellate Division upholding a decision by a NY administrative law judge that a Christian couple were wrong for refusing to hold a marriage on their property for a gay couple. Students at universities violently disrupting guest speakers on their campus. These are a few examples of people with power and influence intimidating other people.

To have a meaningful dialogue about any subject, all parties should abandon labelling and name-calling. Mysogynists. Misandrists. Different viewpoints. Is it inappropriate to appropriate a word for a usage different from its’ original intent? As stated by Paul Nathansome and Katherine Young: “The teaching of contempt … now prevents mutual respect between men and women.” Respect is earned.

JEREMY CONLIN

Cocolalla