Attention to words

I seldom agree with Mike Masterson’s political opinions, but usually find them thoughtful. His July 28 column, however, reads as a series of hyperbolic talking points fed by rightwing demagogues. He accuses liberal Americans of being hypocrites, while ignoring the self-contradictions that emerge from “conservative” ideologues. He argues that people who live in gated communities should not object to building a border wall. Even Border Patrol agents have disagreements as to how effective a wall would be in curtailing our immigration problems. The notion that opposing a border wall amounts to advocating open borders is a “line” fed by elitist politicians and parroted by right-wing pundits—the type of mindless “Hannityisms” that Mike usually avoids.

Masterson lectures us lessinformed readers that pro-choice Americans show hypocrisy when they argue for humane treatment of immigrant children. Might we point out similar contradictions when “pro-lifers” support military intervention as a form of ongoing U.S. foreign policy? How do folks who claim to promote the sanctity of life justify their support for policies that have resulted in roughly 200,000 civilian deaths in Iraq (which has never attacked the U.S.)?

What about “conservatives” who criticize liberals as tax-and-spenders when our national debt explodes with conservative “borrow-and-spenders” in power? We could go on, but my point is—please, Mike—pay attention to your own words. Don’t use your column as, paraphrasing you, an arrogant one who loses credibility through pronouncements applied to everyone but himself.

Contradictory notions appear in all political camps—not just those whose policy stances are different than yours. ROBERT MORTENSON

Fayetteville