Editorial: Town hall meetings can be held without juvenile actions
Published: August 19, 2009
The Constitution declares Americans’ rights to free speech. Dissenting opinions are good for America. It gives us an opportunity to re-evaluate our side of an argument and either feel more strongly about our beliefs or accept that another person has a better point of view.
Regardless, we should at least respect one another’s points of view.
That said, points of view should be expressed in a constructive manner that does not infringe upon the rights of others, or cause a disruptive situation that could lead to either violence or injury.
When this happens, dissenting points of view are often perceived as juvenile and cannot be given the same credibility as a person who expresses an opinion in a civil manner.
Recent town hall meetings across the United States have earned headlines on major news networks – not necessarily for information discussed by members of Congress or citizens respectfully sharing their concerns – but instead for shouting, fighting and anger.
It’s clear, the health care issue in America is a hot-button topic and is one that can greatly effect all of our lives. But when a town hall meeting turns violent, little or nothing is accomplished. Representatives from the government are sent to discuss the issue, whether they are for or against President Obama’s plan that includes a controversial public option, with their constituents, and they deserve to provide information and answer questions in a civil manner.
This does not mean the information they provide is totally accurate. More times than not, the information they provide will be one-sided in favor of the health care plan they choose to support. But people are smart enough to know this and still deserve to hear what is said without massive disruption. People also deserve the right to voice their disagreements, but should do so in a manner that is respectful of the people in attendance.
If shouting is the only was a person can be heard, then moderators should recognize that, quiet the crowd and let this person be heard so they do not have to create a scene.
A town hall meeting was scheduled next Tuesday at Auburn’s city hall with U.S. Congressman Mike Rogers. A release sent by the AARP read the meeting had been postponed.
We hope this meeting is rescheduled. The people of our great community deserve the right to hear the issues of health care — from both sides of the political spectrum — and discuss them peacefully.
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Reader Reactions
I concur that these meetings should be held without juvenile actions on the part of the citizens attending them, but I also believe that office holders shouldn’t act like juveniles by avoiding holding Town Hall meetings and meeting with their constituents who contact them and ask for a meeting with their public servants.
CASE IN POINT: Congressman Bobby Bright’s Montgomery office was called several times and Bright was sent registered mail by some of his constituents asking that he meet with them yesterday, August 19, in his office in Montgomery so they could express their opinions and ask questions about the proposed health insurance legislation that is being considered in the US Congress. One lady said she even hand-delivered such a letter the staff member in charge of his Montgomery office. These constituents report that they never received any reply at all from Bright.
Yesterday, having had no reply, a group of his concerned constituents went to his office at the time requested to meet with Bright. They were told that Bright had been there but had left, rather than meeting with them. A video of what transpired can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vas-hd6vzsE.
Whether true or not, I’ve heard that Congressman Mike Rogers has not been holding Town Hall meetings in his congressional district (CD3), which I believe includes the Opelika-Auburn area, during the congressional recess.
Speaking of juvenile, this seems like a game of “Hide and Seek”.
While it can be disruptive, juvenile is not the word that should be used for democracy. Let’s travel back just a few months ago. The first agenda for the President and his lefties was Gitmo. The American public view has shown threw polling that “WE the people” don’t want Gitmo shut down. Next was Government Motors takeover. The American public threw polling shows, fiscally, this wasn’t/isn’t popular with the general public. Now on to healthcare…this administration and these wack jobs in D.C. are having to finally listen to their bosses (taxpayers). They kept pushing unpopular legislation for the first 7 months and everyone, for the most part, kept quiet outside of talk radio. Well, since they didn’t listen to phone calls, emails and polling regarding healthcare, why do they suddenly deserve the American people to play nice? We tried to go about this in a civilized manner, but far lefties don’t listen to civilized manner since they’ve shown over the past 8 years that screaming and protesting is the only way to get their point accross. My how the tides have turned! Phone call after phone call, they ignored consituents and people have come to realize that Democrats will do whatever they want while in office regardless of what their consituents want (spare me the Bush retoric). How do you get someone’s attention that repeatedly ignores you, especially if they work for you? You get them in a room and yell until you get your point across!
Ryan
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