News you can use

Threats have no place in public discourse

Threats have no place in public discourse

Editor:

What do we have in common? Well, we both call Havre, Mont., home.

Aside from that geographical fact, it would be very difficult to find much of anything for which we agree.

Steelers vs. Packers nope. Taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood, we couldn't be further apart. Whether or not the 2000 presidential election was decided fairly, definitely not.

Some very disturbing news from Helena this week did, however, make the two of us realize that we have one unwavering principle in common. Violence or threats of violence have no place in the arena of public discourse. Those who threaten their fellow citizens in order to intimidate them into silence are engaging in a kind of terrorism, which undermines the greatness of our system of government.

Rep. Kris Hansen, House District 33, was the recipient of such threats. Please join both of us, regardless of your political affiliation, in condemning these acts.

The passionate debate of issues without the threat of personal harm is vital to maintaining a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Karen Sloan and Rick Dow, Havre

Editor:

What do we have in common? Well, we both call Havre, Mont., home.

Aside from that geographical fact, it would be very difficult to find much of anything for which we agree.

Steelers vs. Packers nope. Taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood, we couldn't be further apart. Whether or not the 2000 presidential election was decided fairly, definitely not.

Some very disturbing news from Helena this week did, however, make the two of us realize that we have one unwavering principle in common. Violence or threats of violence have no place in the arena of public discourse. Those who threaten their fellow citizens in order to intimidate them into silence are engaging in a kind of terrorism, which undermines the greatness of our system of government.

Rep. Kris Hansen, House District 33, was the recipient of such threats. Please join both of us, regardless of your political affiliation, in condemning these acts.

The passionate debate of issues without the threat of personal harm is vital to maintaining a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Karen Sloan and Rick Dow, Havre

 

Reader Comments(0)