Consider the impact of your words

To the editor:

I have read with interest the last few weeks the editorials by J.R. and letters to the editor by Mr. Chase, Ms. Fennig and Mr. Chittum.

Mr. Chase asked Ms. Fennig what her source of news was, therein showing his bias. If he would have just asked, “What is your source of news?” his bias would not have come through so easily. But when he named the news source, I would doubt anything said on that news source would be of any real relevance.

Don’t get me wrong, I admit to being biased in several areas, but I am not going to take time to list them here.

In fact, there are several points in Mr. Chase’s letter from Jan. 23 that I agree with, and also in Ms. Fennig’s letter. So I would ask Mr. Chase, what is your main source of news? I have found that usually there is at least an element of truth on both sides.

I would like to enter a quote attributed to Mark Twain: “Few things are more irritating than when someone who you think is wrong is also very effective in making his point.”

Since J.R.’s editorial started all the letters, I would like to address it. This may or may not have been a consideration when he and others in The Commercial Review have questioned the mental state of our president. There are many things you might want to question, but whenever you question the mental health of an elected official, whoever he or she is, you are now questioning the mental health of those who voted for them. Just as when Mrs. Clinton called certain people “deplorables,” so it makes it look like you are looking down your nose and saying “I am so much smarter than you are.” If you want to alienate people, that’s your business, but maybe you might consider this.

Another quote by Elizabeth Harrison: “Those who are lifting the world upward and onward are those who encourage more than criticize.”

Something I and many others should pay more attention to.

Respectfully,

Ralph Guingrich

Rural Portland

P.S. — I did not vote for either candidate, but I did vote.