Letter: Freedom of listening

Leo Marino, Naples

Freedom of listening

Presidential elections cause people to act out of character sometimes in a polarized political environment, just observing the avalanche of skewed campaign advertisements and rhetoric.

It's difficult to just ignore the media and campaign blitz when neighbors and friends start entering the picture directly or through the Internet. The use of that medium in particular seems to minimize one's inhibitions and create a feeling of detachment and comments are group distributed which normally might never be said to some on the list face to face.

Freedom of speech is everyone's right. What can be troublesome are the liberties some of us take with that inalienable right.

How about everyone's right to "Freedom of Listening"? Putting a sign in the front of your property or a friendly discussion when socializing is normal. Forwarding unsolicited personal and sometimes vitriolic (often unsubstantiated) political statements via Internet are unwelcome by many.

I look forward to the post-elections, so we can all get back to friendly conversations with neighbors, friends and social events, sans the often heated political arguments.

Whether a red or blue winner, we need to remain united Americans first and remain cognizant the president represents all of us in the existing volatile world of politics.

We need to collectively show respect for his office, because if we don't, why should the rest of the world?

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