Dec 9, 2018 2 min read

I’m writing in response to the recent opinion column by Dave Ball entitled, “A country divided: Our national cold civil war” (Dec. 2). In it he summarizes a theory postulated by a college professor that the polarization of our public discourse results from the difference between what he calls “normal politics,” which holds that individual rights as defined in the Constitution are preeminent, and “regime politics,” which says collective rights are supreme. After the theory is summarized, Mr. Ball goes on to explain his view of regime change. Unfortunately, that view is just a series of ridiculous accusations about all liberals and only virtuous statements about conservatives. Small wonder.

For example, he says liberals seek to change free speech by limiting those opposing them the opportunity to speak and shouting down any speech contrary to their vision. Perhaps he hasn’t seen Donald Trump’s rallies. He says truth is irrelevant to liberals. That is offensive and ludicrous. He says liberals want to destroy religion as a moral force by creating freedom from religion. Nonsense. Religion can’t be destroyed as long as people can think, and morality comes from the evolution, experience and maturation of individuals and societies. Religion is just a small part of that process. He says liberals wrongly interpret the First Amendment because they believe religion and government should never intersect. Some may and some may not.

Perhaps what Mr. Ball doesn’t wish to understand is the problem of his assigning specific values to a group of people. In effect, he means conservatives are the good guys, with God and truth on their side, and all other points of view are bad. This kind of thinking is the undercurrent of the polarization we’re now experiencing and he is perpetuating. If we’re ever going to get out of this cold civil war we must stop vilifying others, change our myopic views and celebrate our differences. That’s what makes America great.

Bob Willison

Rices Landing