OPINION:
Why are 10-year-olds blocking each other on Instagram over Black Lives Matter (“‘Woke alert’: Companies blasted for backing Black Lives Matter despite group’s anti-Israel activism,” web, Nov. 15)? Why have people come to dread Thanksgiving dinner simply because of the divergent political views among family members?
The answer: Because it’s fun.
Consider that MSNBC almost died before becoming radically partisan, or that the most-watched news clips are not the ones with the most interesting stories, but the ones in which one politician cusses out another. It’s gone too far.
People don’t know what they’re fighting about anymore, and that’s dangerous. Social media in particular threatens to completely control where we direct our anger and hatred.
Both the political left and right are worried about public safety regarding guns, vaccines and abortion, just in different ways. We should be highlighting concern for public safety instead of magnifying opposing policy stances.
Americans are at risk of soon forgetting that many liberals don’t support gender reassignment surgery for children and that many conservatives don’t support a total abortion ban. They will ignore the fact that they are often in agreement with stricter gun control legislation in states that lack it, and that everyone in this country should have equal rights.
Then they will forget how to have a civil discussion. Opposition will evoke anger and ignorance will win once again.
MALAYNA J. BIZIER
Rehoboth, Massachusetts
