Is it possible for you to claim belief in something if you’ve never considered anything else or encountered something that challenges the idea? I would say no. However, in a world with many news networks, some with highly significant political bias, it has become a social norm to never consult a second source or question the validity of the remarks of the people in positions of power.
Tell me, then, why is it a surprise our society is so divided? Exposure to opposing viewpoints does not damage one’s personal beliefs. Opposing views can help reaffirm personal beliefs, and in the case that it causes change or damage to the belief, the belief should be reconsidered anyway, perhaps. In fact, diverse viewpoints help foster community and understanding, and if nothing else, combat misinformation.
Let’s be smart, educated citizens. Consider and interact with experiences and people from perspectives other than your own; diversity is not a bad thing.
Emily Thain
Granger
Be careful
Our country is going through serious changes, mostly negative. We are a unique country as an overwhelming majority of our population evolved from immigrants who came to this country for various reasons: tyranny, hunger, religious freedoms. Most have worked hard, lived through hardships and developed this multicultural country.
Our democratic government is defined to rule by the people and for the people. Analyzing our country, as rich as we are, 11% live in poverty. About 735 are billionaires, 18% are millionaires and about 50 percent are middle class. The middle class is our foundation and growth.
Political problems began late in the 20th century when Newt Gingrich used political polarization in the House using combative approaches to address issues. Currently, we have a Congress of greater than 50% millionaires. Consequently, the wealthy are in power. High school civics tells us spending by our government comes from taxes. The current administration is trying to balance our budget by diminishing or eliminating government programs (Social Security, Medicare, Medicare, SNAP, etc.) that help a large portion of our population. Is this what we voted for?
The solution to balancing the budget is to increase the taxes for the very wealthy and wealthy corporations, all of whom can easily support the work our government should be doing. We need to be careful in whom we vote for public service.
Tom Nowak
South Bend
Return gift?
After reading about the Statue of Liberty being received from the people of France in June of 1885 and dedicated by President Grover Cleveland on Oct. 28, 1886, I felt the need to add my two cents.
The words on the statue are “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
Now with the Trump administration, I think we need to place a huge tarp over the Statue of Liberty or take it apart, box it up and send it back to France. Or place a big sign on it that reads “No more immigrants allowed.”
Jerry Pinder
Plymouth
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Consider perspectives other than your own | Letters
Reporting by Letters to the Editor / South Bend Tribune
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