Beth Ann Rosica: What happened to civil disagreement?
Beth Ann Rosica
Earlier this month, I reported on threatening letters sent to people with Trump signs in their yard. One mailing included this statement, “Your vote for this guy is seen as treading on my rights. You tread on me at your peril, motherf*****.” [edited for inappropriate language]
Following publication of the story, many people reached out to me with similar situations where they felt attacked because of their political affiliations or support of specific candidates. One person said they stopped putting up yard signs because people drove onto their property to run over the signs and knock them down.
Driving through southern Chester County, I found this sign that had been vandalized. Presumably the person who put up the sign left a note for the vandals, “Dear vandal …..(with TDS) Leave our signs alone!”
Taken in isolation, these events may not be significant — yet, when considered in the aggregate, they are alarming. And it caused me to wonder, when did civil society come to an end?
When did we cross the line and move from ardent support for a candidate or position to unhinged behavior? I used to blame these actions on Trump. As someone who dislikes his rhetoric and brashness, I thought that he created this hostile environment. But on reflection, I don’t think that is a fair analysis. Harris and her campaign are as guilty of this as Trump. Previously, Biden and Hilary Clinton spoke similarly.
As a southeastern Pennsylvania resident, I have been inundated with mailers and streaming ads for both Republican and Democratic candidates. My teenage son asked me why none of the ads actually talk about their candidate’s position on a policy, rather they just attack the other side. You would think if my teenager could figure this out, that an overpaid political strategist could as well.
Or maybe, that is the point. Perhaps, the political consultants who design the messaging are responsible for the devolution of campaigns and ultimately society as a whole. Or possibly it is the mainstream media with biased reporting on both sides that is creating the problem. Regardless of who or what is causing the issue, our country is witnessing the end of civil discourse.
I encountered this personally a few years ago when I ran for mayor in my small town of West Chester. As a Libertarian, I knew that my views on local issues would not resonate with a lot of voters, as West Chester is not only a majority Democratic borough, but a heavily progressive area. I did not run to win because that was almost impossible, but I wanted to at least provide an option for voters rather than an unopposed race.
The street where I live has always been a tight knit community. Everyone knows each other and prior to the Covid lockdowns, we would all get together on a somewhat regular basis. I hosted at least one party a year at my home and all the neighbors attended and enjoyed food and drinks.
When I decided to run for mayor, I anticipated that at least some of the neighbors would not vote for me. I even invited a few over to share my platform with them in advance. And as expected, they did not support my views, and we politely agreed to disagree, and I made it clear that we would still be friends and neighbors. I thought that was the end of it.
Unfortunately, it was just the beginning. I was surprised a few weeks later when several of the neighbors, including the ones I met with, put up signs in their yard for my opponent. While I knew that they wouldn’t vote for me, I didn’t think it was necessary to put up a sign for my opponent. Had the roles been reversed, I would never have put up a sign against one of my neighbors, regardless of who I was voting for.
While their actions bothered me, I tried not to take it personally and continued to be cordial when we saw each other. However, it was not enough for them to put up the signs. On Halloween, which is a very big deal on our block with up to 300 trick-or-treaters, my opponent showed up on my neighbor’s sidewalk and started giving out candy and asking people to vote for her. She literally stood across the street from me while I was sitting on my porch giving out candy. My neighbors who had her sign posted in their yard saw what she was doing and never asked her to stop.
That incident was followed by another neighbor posting inflammatory and untrue comments about me and my husband on social media. These are people who had known me for twenty years and had spent countless hours in my home.
The point of sharing these stories is not to complain, but rather to highlight what is happening in our communities. These examples are a microcosm of what is happening across the region and the rest of the country. Common courtesy and civil discourse appear to be lost.
Whether in the form of threatening letters, defacing signs, or disrespect for years of friendship, these actions are all unacceptable. And they are unacceptable regardless of political affiliation. It is still not known where the letter campaign originated. Maybe it is an anti-Trump individual or group or maybe it is a group trying to make the Democratic Party look bad. Ultimately, we do not know and may not ever find out, but the point is that this is not ok.
Civility, respect, and decency are essential for our constitutional republic to survive. And perhaps, more importantly, they are imperative for our children to grow up with a sense of hope for the future. Meanwhile, campaigns continue to push negative and attacking messaging, and people become more aggressive towards the other side. This is the environment where someone thinks it is acceptable to send threatening letters or disregard 20 years of friendship.
Perhaps it is naive to hope for change, but it feels like we have reached a tipping point or a point of no return. If we cannot engage in civil discourse and disagree with one another in a non-threatening manner, Benjamin Franklin’s statement in 1787 may come to fruition. When asked whether we had a republic or a monarchy, he replied, “a republic, if you can keep it.”
Beth Ann Rosica resides in West Chester, has a Ph.D. in Education, and has dedicated her career to advocating on behalf of at-risk children and families. She covers education issues for Broad + Liberty. Contact her at barosica@broadandliberty.com.
This entire column can be summed in as; free speech for me, but not for thee.
Just because Miss Rosica is friendly with her neighbors does not mean they will support her politically. Nor should Miss Rosica be surprised when her neighbors put a lawn signs supporting the person they support this is what the First Amendment is for. Just because Miss Rosica would never put a campaign sign on her lawn, does not mean others can’t. As for her opponent handing out candy across the street from her house, she should have expected this.
Beth Ann should expect course and in your face behavior from former civil neighbors ? The lesson here, as has been demonstrated in her campaigns and writing, Beth Ann is a better person than most people running for office.
You and Beth Ann should remember that this is about the First Amendment. Given Ms. Rosica’s recent embellishment of a Trump rally at West Chester University, she is also embellishing her relationship with her neighbors.
Beth Ann,
Thank you for being you. You are awesome, and you rock, and you smell funny. We all smell funny and that is why deodorant sells. But you are awesome, and you rock, and nobody sells “awesome” or “rock” because that because it special. You are special.
People are strange. They do strange stuff. Sometimes neighbors let you down. Sometimes neighbors lift you up.
One of the nicest women I ever met just died. Her sons and husband are devastated.
Press on! That is all you can control: your own attitude. YOU ROCK!
Keep rocking.
In reading Dr. Rosica’s observations I am reminded that insults are the arguments of those who have no arguments. More precisely Jean-Jacques Rousseau advised “Insults are the arguments employed by those who are in the wrong.”
Also a quote, wrongly attributed to Churchill, seems tmely,“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.”
We are fortunate we have the Dr. Rosicas among us who will stand and speak the unfashionable to get us to a better place.
How was Miss Rosica insulted by her neighbors? All they did was express their right to free speech regarding an election.
“Insults are the arguments employed by those who are in the wrong.” – This is all Trump has done in all three of his campaigns. He has yet to provide a healthcare plan better than Obamacare.
Beth Ann, thank you for bringing this to light. It is NOT okay for people to vandalize anyone’s private property. Civil discourse has devolved to nasty name calling & friends & family separating because of a difference of political opinion. In my humble opinion, Beth Ann was not complaining about her experiences when running for Mayor of WC, rather she was highlighting her personal story & applying her firsthand knowledge of how politics has become bitter & divisive. It is not okay for neighbors to behave in the manner she described, it was intended to be intimidating. Once upon a time, it was acceptable to discuss politics & religion politely. Those days are over. The Covid shutdown changed our nation forever. People think that they can tread on MY rights by shutting discussions down, by vandalizing personal property, & by simply being vindictive (which is how Beth Ann’s neighbors acted, even after knowing them for such a long time & calling many of them “friend”). I love that the owner of that sign responded to the vandal(s) & let it remain posted as it was. It’s a great driver for more Trump supporters to get out & vote for him, having the opposite reaction that the vandal was hoping for.
“It is not okay for neighbors to behave in the manner she described, it was intended to be intimidating.” These neighbors engaged in free speech as protected by the First Amendment. Posting lawn signs in support of a candidate is not a threat and given Miss Rosica’s recent embellishment of the Trump rally at WCU, I would question her view of her relationship with her neighbors.
You are right, “Once upon a time, it was acceptable to discuss politics & religion politely.” Until Trump ran for office in 2016. During that time he engaged in name calling, personal attacks, and threats of violence. And people like you failed to call him out for this.
And it it goes both ways, I do not support Trump; I had a Biden sign in my yard during the last presidential election cycle and I was harassed on the road in our neighborhood by a guy in a truck. I was afraid and angry. i was also yelled at (with expletive’s) for wearing a mask during the height of covid.
Your articles alway seem to imply that those whom disagree with you are the ones that flout the rules of engagement, less civil, lesser Americans. When I testified about impact of covid regulation to borough council you and your friends were so intent on making your points that you ignored and were dismissive of the human loss that several of us suffered during covid. It was painful that people’s personal experience with loss during covid meant so little to you and your friends.
Personally I think it fair for your neighbors to post your opponent signs on their yards. I suspect that you would be very ok if they posted your signs on their yards. They do not have the right to post false or inaccurate statement about you or your family. They do have a right to oppose you politically..
You have the right to vote for Trump. I find him to be corrupt and a fundamental threat to our democracy.I cannot understand it. Still people should not deface your signs but it has happened to me on the other side of politics.
You must be an honest arbitrator of fact v. opinion. if you are committed to representing your position honestly then I believe I can engage in a civil discourse with you. As far as civil engagement goes I have read some of your covid opinion pieces and I found them to be disingenuous in your citation of scientific articles that refuted the very positions on masking and social distancing that you were promoting. You incorporated these citations to lend credibility to your argument. If no-one actually looked your citations up readers would not know this. If you believe in civil discourse then you must also be honest in your representation of facts. if you are only interested in making your point over and at the expense of people, and facts who differ from your position then there can be no civil engagement. I would say to you; in order for civil engagement/ civil disagreement to exist the rules need to apply to everyone, you included, and not just your political opposition.
I now live on Eastern Shore of Maryland. When we moved here twelve years ago it was aptly named “The Land of Pleasant Living.” Not anymore.
See Letter to the Editor below published recently in our local newspaper.
People can get vicious
November 2, 2024 Star Democrat, (Easton, MD)
In a country where freedom of speech is a cherished principle, it is always disheartening to encounter those who verbally or physically attack those with whom they disagree.
While working at the Firehouse this week I was called a Nazi. Today: “You are all sick.” We have been spat, cursed at and given the old middle finger. One sign holder had a cup of coffee thrown at him. Yesterday I watched a woman In her 70s bend down and give a Trump sign the middle finger. Real mature.
Two ladies at the tent on Sunday evening felt threatened to the point they considered calling the police.
I thought it was bad when the signs were being destroyed, little did I know how vicious people can get.
Do you feel Trump was vicious in the any of the following statements?
Jews who do not vote Republican are disloyal.
John McCain was a loser because he was captured.
All of the name calling and personal attacks during his three campaigns and time in office.
That anyone in the military are suckers and losers.
That Hattians in Springfield were eating peoples cats and dogs.
That everyone around him during his term in office was a warhawk and he wanted peace.
When he made fun of a reporter who is disabled.
When he called Vice President Harris a prostitute at a recent rally.
If Trump can dish it out, you are going to have learn to take it when it blows back on you. Or you can support candidates who treat people they they want to be treated.