LETTER TO THE EDITOR: On the divide of society - admit you're wrong

“A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Truthful words from a truthful man. Of course, these words were originally spoken at a time of war, but I believe that they still hold significant relevance in America today in the Republican vs. Democrat, Conservative vs. Liberal, Capulet vs. Montague cut-throating gridlock that our American public has placed itself in, and I must ask the question: Do you really think that one side is really right and the other is not? Do you honestly believe that every aspect of your moral compass, your political stances, are the “right” thing to believe in? While it’s not a war with guns and fallen brothers, America is slowly choking itself to death on politics, on party affiliation, on subjective moral beliefs and decisions, that are causing everyday men, and even some of my accomplished political friends, to become closed-minded and to gear up for battle with biased support, with internal anger and prejudice and a “tunnel vision” to only their party, only their current beliefs and only their policy. Is it really such a surprise that Trump and Hillary are so opposite to each other? I fully believe that presidential candidacy will always reflect the state of the nation. What state have we resorted to? How are we as a society, when the main argument for either candidate is “the lesser of two evils”? If we really want to form a unified society, if we want a candidate that can change the world through responsible fiscal and social means, we must accept this statement: I’m wrong. Yes, Democrats and liberals, you are wrong; yes, Republicans and conservatives, with which I mostly affiliate myself, you are wrong; I am wrong. No, not about everything, there are a lot of issues that I believe that I may be on the morally correct side on, but I accept that I am wrong about something. I don’t know what it is, I don’t know what policy or social issue or health policy that I am wrong about, but I am wrong about something, and so are you, that’s a guarantee. Let’s move away from simply trying to prove the other person wrong, let’s move away from winning by desecrating your opposition, let’s move away from simply agreeing to disagree because you’re not ready to change. Do you want a legitimate candidate, a unified government and a truly functioning and loving society that I know America can be? Admit that you’re wrong, and when you go into a debate or discussion, listen to what the other person is saying, find what angle they are coming from and educate yourself. Maybe you’ll learn that you’re wrong about one-half of the issue and right about the other, if there even are objective right and wrong. Essentially, let’s meet in the middle, let’s educate each other and let’s stop this divided house from collapsing.

Stephen Baione 16 years old Felton