Nov. 24, 2025 Editor, The News-Gazette: I was dismayed and saddened after reading Mike Lowry’s recent column. It was not the ideas he expressed, but its tone and spirit that disturbed me. He calls Democrats “dumb” and “liars” and President Biden “a joke.” He implies that for Democrats “calls for violence, shutdowns that hurt people,” and “the politics of hate and personal destruction” are now the norm.
As a Marine jet pilot, I flew 350 combat missions over South Viet Nam, North Viet Nam and Laos. I have voted in every election. I freely pay my taxes and remain engaged in the affairs of my community. I am also a Democrat and an acknowledged “liberal.” A s such I personally believe that government has a responsibility to ensure a basic level of welfare for all of its citizens. I have never practiced a politics of “hate” and decry violence in all of its forms. I am not dumb and I try not to lie.
While I disagree with Mr. Lowry on the substance of his editorial, I do not believe that he is dumb, lying or does not believe deeply in the ideas he is promoting. On the contrary I have no doubt that he believes in these ideas just as strongly as I am committed to my beliefs.
But I also believe that we can deeply disagree with someone while still respecting and supporting their right to have and express their views; that it is possible to disagree without attacking the integrity of the other person; and that we can listen to each other respectfully and make a sincere effort to understand other perspectives even when we disagree. If we can’t do these things, we are in deep trouble as a community and a nation.
Lighten up Mike. BILLBLATTER Rockbridge County
