It is Sad That Dialog has been Replaced with Hatred

I have been writing a daily political opinion article for over 5 years, nearly 2,000 consecutive days, and I have received a fair share of criticism. I can handle criticism, as that is what fuels conversation and debate. I have said from my first article that my purpose was not to profess I had all of the answers, but to start a conversation. Through civil conversation, people can agree or disagree, but they can also learn and educate. I find that many people who sent negative comments, did not understand the topic, were not up to speed on the facts, or had recieved a false narrative. I have learned my fair share on this journey, and I will readily admit that you are never too old to learn, just don’t let the teacher be a part of today’s education system. I am sure that there are people in the teaching profession with the best of intentions to teach and don’t editorialize. Unfortunately, however, too many men and women who stand at the front of the class are not preparing our kids for the future, but destroying the past. They are not teaching but indoctrinating, and the biggest cause of today’s heated climate. Social media is a partner of teaching and is doing a disservice to generations of young people.

Last week, I posted a screenshot of New York Mayor Mamdani announcing he would break with tradition and be the first mayor to boycott New York City’s Israel Day Parade. He refuses to attend the Israeli parade, which his Police Commissioner will be a Grand Marsdhall, but he was front and center to kick off Gay Pride Month. Sorry, Mayor, you do not have the luxury of choice. It is all or none. You may not agree with the organizers, but rest assured that at least half of your city’s residents do support the Israeli celebration, and you are their Mayor, also.

I received over 75,000 views, which is viral for me, and 1,100 comments on my post. Nothing I had ever posted came close to those numbers. I would say at least 1000 comments were negative, and the majority wished me ill will. Some wanted me dead, while others took the extra step and wished me death by cancer. Apparently, they are unaware that I spent every day of 2025 fighting and beating cancer, and I will beat these angry, vile people, too, but not by matching their hostility. One comment was from a neighbor and someone we called a friend. Shay and I had sat at her kitchen table for had a wonderful meal. Now that she has labeled us as bigots and racists, we won’t have to shop for flowers, wine, and dessert soon. I will stay the course, keep writing’ and hopefully influencing a few people along the way’ that living in America is like holding the winning lottery ticket. Enjoy the good fortune and work to make it better, not tear it down.

I am not surprised by the Mayor’s actions or decisions on a rainbow of issues (see what I did there?), which is why I lean toward supporting a law that would require a person to be born in America to hold a high-level state or federal government position. Although we are a nation of immigrants, there is a huge generational gap between our grandparents and today’s immigrants, whether legal or not. Our ancestors came to assimilate into the greatest experiment ever seen on earth. Today’s immigrant is coming to morph us into something we are not. The cultural differences are far too great to have immigrants in a political management position. I was dismayed and encouraged at the same time by the reactions to my post. Disappointed by the overall tone, but delighted that there were so many who noticed. That is a start.

Author’s Note: graphics created by Grok