Can we please cut each other a little more slack?

Regarding Randall Beach’s recent article, “Is it ‘socialist’ to ban plastic bags?” I can’t say I blame Beach for getting a little defensive. The comments he received from some of his readers were pretty ridiculous. For example, the first reader quoted was really on a “name-calling” roll, managing to call Beach a “snowflake,” “a socialist,” and a “jerk” in one sentence.

As I see it, there are five ways to respond to name-calling: you can either allow it to “hurt” you; try to ignore it; try to see the humor in it; try to learn something from it; or you can engage in it yourself. Unfortunately, too many of us today go straight for the fifth choice, fighting fire with fire and getting absolutely nowhere solution-wise. I mean, aren’t “snowflake” or “socialist” just the current “go-to” slurs for the right, while the left’s favorite slurs tend to be “racist” or “fascist.” But does a concern for the environment or for the legalization of marijuana automatically make one a socialist? Does believing in the Second Amendment or that people should not be allowed to enter this country illegally make one a racist or a fascist?

Here’s a test: if one half of the equation that I just presented to you has you nodding your heading knowingly, while the other half has you shaking your head and/or rolling your eyes, then consider the possibility that you are just as guilty of intolerance as anyone.

Can we please cut each other a little more slack. Can we try to actually listen to one another, to understand one another, to walk in each other’s shoes a bit and rediscover the value of compromise — that middle ground where most political solutions reside. What do you say, snowflakes and rednecks? Perhaps compromise is the means by which “We” — the people, the citizens of these United States can all truly be great once again.

Gary J. Carlson Professor of English, Norwalk Community College

Norwalk

Support a caring culture in America

Like many neighbors and voters, I am concerned about the way our government is treating poor and underprivileged people. No one should be homeless or go hungry in a country as rich as ours.

Right now, Congress is considering more restrictions on SNAP (food stamps) in order to increase farm subsidies to landowners. Most SNAP recipients already work, many are disabled, and nearly 70 percent are families with children. Why do we punish them when they already live with such serious financial stress?

Please call your representatives to support a caring culture in America. The efficient political will that cruelly separates immigrant families could be applied to make so many peoples’ lives better. M. Ariori Hamden

Blumenthal is a joke

I seen our Sen. Richard Blumenthal on TV commenting on all the overdoses on the New Haven Green. He complains about drugs from China coming into the United States over our southern border thru Mexico with other harmful chemicals, but he’s against building a wall and adding more security to stop the problem. He’s a joke.

John Mele East Haven