Hateful ravings

To the editor:

In his June 3 column, George Gurley lamented the polarization of Lawrence. For proof of his belief that the city’s personality had taken an ugly turn, Mr. Gurley cited postings on the Journal-World’s online edition.

Though it may seem to some that the mood in Lawrence has taken on a divisive tone, I think it would be a mistake to put too much credence in anonymous postings on the Internet. A handful of hateful online writers does not equate to a Lawrence filled with “rabid animosity.”

A resident for 10 years, I find the Lawrence my family fell in love with alive and well. Yes, there are times when there are differences of opinion. The Wal-Mart proposal is just the most recent example. However, this difference of opinion does not change the overall personality of Lawrence. Whatever the resolution of the Wal-Mart matter, Lawrence will continue to be a great community in which to live.

Anonymity gives some writers the courage to write the most astonishingly cruel things. If the Journal-World were to require that the writers use their real names, I believe that courage would quickly dissipate.

Until these authors get the nerve to stand by their writing by revealing their identities, we should take these postings on the Journal-World for what they are: hateful ravings of a few people.

Jack Mercer,

Lawrence