This newspaper usually seems to support the idea that public discourse should be civil; that is why I am surprised that the paper continues to run Cal Thomas columns. The word “civil” is akin to the word “civilization,” defined as “a relatively high level of cultural and technological development” or the second definition, “characteristic of a time or place.”

The “God has place in debate” column by Cal Thomas is anything but civil and unfortunately reflects the characteristic of this time to replace honest public discourse with hate rhetoric. Thomas opined that if you believe in evolution and/or you are a member of the “secular left” you think health care should be rationed and somehow in the future people won’t be cared for as well as they are under the present system resulting in “snuffing out” “grannys.”

Where has his concern been for all the Americans who NOW have no health care? The truth is that the health care reform legislation offers seniors access to counseling information for living wills, a measure supported by AARP. The truth is that senior Medicare benefits are not targeted cuts. Waste, fraud and abuses are targeted, those things like the $1,000-plus wheelchairs.

Free press should cover news no matter the content; opinion columns inciting and spreading hate rhetoric conflict with the ideal of civil discourse.