Don’t Let Extremism Go Unanswered

To the Editor:

Thank you letter writers Konrad Miller, Lou Reda, and Dick Zang for challenging the extreme messages of other writers. Please continue, and hopefully others will join as well with courteous, reasoned responses to balance the extremism that comes from both sides of the political spectrum. Let readers know there are plenty of Newtowners who oppose the zealotry embraced by what I’m sure is a small minority.

Many extremists seem to be fond of quoting our Founding Fathers and the Constitution, yet those same extremists lack the willingness to compromise and the bipartisanship that allowed those founders to create that document. Let’s bring some of those true American values to the dialog.

It’s easy: go to newtownbee.com, click on Contact Us, then on Submit Letter to the Editor. It’s our valued freedom of the press that lets zealots spout nonsense. Let’s use that same freedom of the press to balance the dialogue. Parents and teachers: encourage your children and students to join in a reasoned, honest, respectful dialogue. It’s never too early to help them develop the skills they will need to work together to solve the problems that both parties have created or failed to solve.

Jim Greenwood

10 Elm Drive, Newtown                                                      May 5, 2012