Editor,

I am an independent voter that has lived on Whidbey Island for 39 years. I am dismayed by the level of division that is today evidenced in local political party statements and in letters to the editor. I ask, what have we become? Can we possibly get a perspective?

My own perspective is (inevitably) guided by the 70+ years on this earth. In my time, I have seen political division, but it seems to bear little resemblance to what I see today.

Growing up, we had left wing and right wing. Side A and Side B. Seems to be human nature to essentially divide up into almost equally divided sides and go at it.

The left-wing was bleeding hearts, do-gooders, tree-huggers, God-less, and they were suspected of doing kumbaya in their leisure time. Today, these are the Marxists – a term that is intentionally inflammatory though the movement is not at all what it used to be.

I think we can let the label “Marxist” go, today.

On the right side of politics, were the conservatives with a big C. They were our protectors in the way that they funded national defense and the police while advocating for reducing total spending and tapping the brakes on changing norms and values. Today, the former meaning of conservative has settled on defining about half the country as true American patriots. The rest are slated for removal in one way or another. Unwavering loyalty to the personality-in-chief is a handy bottom-line litmus test.

Today, I think we really can let the term “patriot” go. Kissing the flag does not quite look the same to me as when I was a kid.

I’m left wondering what makes us all tick, anyway? Looks to me like it is not actually something we can hold in our hand and refer to. Instead, we are caught up in a maelstrom of fears, gut feelings, intriguing conspiracies and wild solutions that wash and back-wash over trembling bodies.

But come to think of it … I think we have seen this kind of thing before. Can we apprehend what is going on in today’s political life? I believe it is time for everybody to take a deep breath and get a perspective.

After all, don’t we want to continue having exciting equally divided political races next year?

Lee B. James

Coupeville