To the editor:

The price of freedom is letting your neighbor have their say. I’m not talking about waiting to lambaste them, but listening. Listening is a lost art, something they don’t teach in school. Genuinely trying to understand another’s point of view is hard work.

The whole idea of people speaking different languages came up while I was sitting with my chickens. I have an Araucana, a Bard Plymouth Rock, a Buff Orpington, a Light Brahma, a Golden Comet and a Rouen drake. This last one is a duck. We all know that ducks and chickens don’t speak the same language.

So I was a little concerned when I first put the flock together. Lucky for the duck, he doesn’t know the difference. And lucky for the chickens, they don’t care. Lo and behold they are a flock in every sense of the word. The chickens are always trying to coax me to let them out; the duck is more than willing to call out the alarm. Different languages, similar interests, opposite styles, common ground. They sleep and eat together.

That’s what got me thinking. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could find some way to respond to an opposing point of view without trying to eviscerate the other person’s opinion? I’m personally tired of the “with us or agin’ us” response. I’m a veteran, I’ve paid my dues, so have the rest of us, in our own way. Somewhere along the line we’ve forgotten the first lessons of kindergarten; how to get along.

So regardless of what you think of my opinion, I’ve had my say. And you’re welcome to yours, any time, that’s a promise.

Happy Fourth of July, no matter what it means to you.

Daniel Goldsmith

Freeland