To the editor:
As the fourth of July approaches, many of us will celebrate our nation’s independence with fireworks, parades, and family gatherings. It is a time to reflect on freedom and what it means to be an American.
Yet I cannot help but wonder whether we are losing something important.
Today, we are constantly bombarded with information from television, social media, websites, podcasts, and endless videos. We are told what to think, who to trust, and who to blame. Many people no longer know what information is true and what is false. Instead of bringing us together, much of the media profits from keeping us divided.
Too often, Americans are pushed into opposing camps. You either support a politician completely or you are expected to hate them. We spend more time attacking one another than listening to one another. We make fun of people’s mistakes, their age, their appearance, and sometimes even their struggles. Compassion has become rare.
Whether someone supports Donald Trump, opposes Donald Trump, supported Joe Biden, or opposed Joe Biden, we should be able to discuss our concerns without insulting one another. We are neighbors first and political opponents second.
Our country faces real challenges: rising costs, healthcare concerns, misinformation, and a growing distrust of institutions. These problems will not be solved by anger, name calling, or viral videos designed to provoke outrage. They will only be solved when ordinary citizens come together and work toward common goals.
This fourth of July, perhaps the greatest act of patriotism is not choosing sides. Perhaps it is choosing to listen, to show compassion, and to remember that we are all Americans.
Freedom is not just the right to speak. It is also the responsibility to think for ourselves, seek the truth, and treat one another with dignity.
If we can do that, there is still hope for our nation to heal.
Donna McNamara
Perryville
