MEEKER | The challenge to certain words used by any one of us in the middle of a serious conversation may go unnoticed. There are numerous examples of rancorous issues, but the one that comes up most frequently now is immigration. The words two politicians were arguing over on a radio show recently were documented, illegal, immigrant and legal.
All one needs to fuel the fire are two words together: “undocumented immigrant.” Amplify the conversation to a screaming match and all reason goes out the window. Violence soon ensues.
However, the division between members of both parties will become more visible as caucuses and primaries are held across the country.
We should be grateful for the respectful, quiet manner in which our local government has been conducting business most of its more than 125 years, even if a few believers in collaboration have to share their perspective, at least locally.
The dissonance and threats of violence will continue to disrupt the smooth functioning of the House of Representatives and the Senate. In the state, there are reports of some of the same kind of obstacles to legislating reasonably. It may move forward inch by inch or not go forward at all.
This stop-and-start movement governing the rest of us makes all of us much more vulnerable to not speaking our minds about the issues and subsequently to stop having conversations of any depth that lead to eventual collaboration. The hard work of conducting government business without listening needs all that information to make an important decision.
If someone says something to you casually to bait you, just let it be.
By DOLLY VISCARDI
