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To the editor: Civility required even if you have another opinion

I am writing in response to Kathleen Parker's column, "Speak Correctly or Build a Big Bunker" (Perspective, Oct. 8). I happen to disagree on her view of Sarah Palin. Nevertheless, I was appalled by the severity of the vehement e-mails she received.

How can we as a nation survive if we condone telling those with differing opinions that they should have been aborted? Of course we have different opinions. That's what makes us a democracy and not a dictatorship.

Especially in an election year, we see our differing opinions debated in ads and news shows on almost every channel. Our freedom to do so is part of what makes us America. However, I have never seen more vicious attacks and pure hatred from both parties than I have this year. Division was not what the writers of the Constitution had in mind when they secured our freedom of speech.

In this tense election year, let us not forget the words penned by John Dickinson in 1768, "Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all, By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall."