A recent letter to the editor lamented lack of balance in The Chronicle’s opinion section. It seems to me that lately, we’ve been seeing letters and opinions from different sides of our current political divide, and that’s good.
What’s not so good: the comments on the Chronicle’s Facebook page.
For example, take this rough summary of The Chronicle comment section on an article covering the recent Labor Day “Workers Over Billionaires” protest:
Comment: “Get a job!”
Reply: “This demonstration was held on a national holiday.”
Response: “What a bunch of losers! Asking for handouts!”
Reply: “Actually, I just retired after 40-plus years of gainful employment, and now I’m protesting so others can have what I do — Social Security and Medicare.”
Response: “Pathetic old people! Go back to the nursing home! Why don’t you do something instead of just waving signs?”
Reply: “Many of us volunteer in local charities.”
Response: “Volunteers just volunteer so the paper will cover them! It’s all for show!”
Sigh.
Rather than engage the substance of what people were protesting — the gross income inequality in this country that lets untaxed billionaires fly to space while their minimum wage workers apply for food stamps — the comments focus on the protestors themselves.
Nasty comments about people’s age and appearance and how they choose to spend their time seem preferable to honest discussion of issues.
If you see someone protesting on a weekday, what makes you think they don’t have a job? Jobs come in all shapes and sizes, not just the old 9 to 5 standard. If you see someone protesting on a weekend, what makes you think they are losers? They are giving up their time to try to call attention to problems that are hurting people right now. If you see an old person protesting, why does their age make their views unimportant? Perhaps their experiences are worth listening to. If someone volunteers, why do you assume they’re only doing it for brownie points? Whatever motivates them, volunteers get things done.
If you don’t read the article — and your comments show it — why are you wasting your time, and ours?
Susanne Weil
Onalaska
