To the editor:

I was discussing the recent remarks made by Donovan McNabb with an associate, and he declared that “anyone who thinks (differently) is an idiot or a racist.” What happened to the idea that reasonable people can disagree without one of them being dumb or prejudiced? Both sides of every issue now label the opposing side as not just wrong, but as having malicious intent:

“If you don’t agree with me you hate freedom and America.”

“If you don’t agree with me you’re a racist and a sexist.”

“If you don’t agree with me you support terrorists.”

“If you don’t agree with me you don’t care about poor and sick people,” etc.

This kind of thinking is lazy. It’s easier to believe that people who disagree with you are dumb or racist. That way you don’t have to actually think about your own beliefs and why you support them. Worst of all, these people paint themselves into a corner. They can never compromise or admit they are wrong because of how they’ve labeled the opposing view. So now they have to stubbornly continue to support something no matter what. In Washington, they stand by failed policies to the point of disaster, because to change course would mean supporting the terrorist/racist/ communist/sexist side of the issue. Let’s stop the name-calling and labeling, and get back to discussing issues on the merits.

Bart Johnson,

Lawrence