A slippery slope | Letters

Published 12:05 pm Tuesday, May 1, 2012

The breakdown of civility and mutual respect in our nation seems to have infected our local politics as well. Have we forgotten that we are all stakeholders in this community?

We have many interests in common, and none of us wants to live in a hostile and angry environment, or (with a few outrageous exceptions, it seems), deliberately cause harm to others.

Although there are serious and legitimate divisions among us over some highly contentious issues, the only way to avoid lasting damage to our community is for all sides to use the fairness principle as a guide in trying to find a resolution.

This means acknowledging the legitimacy of our different interests, listening respectfully to all points of view, and trying our best to accommodate and strike a balance between these conflicting concerns.

Compromise in a civilized society is a moral priority, not a cop out.

Peter Corning/San Juan Island