Something has been eating at me lately. We are not effectively and productively communicating with each other. And it includes the printed word, electronic world and particularly face-to-face.

Folks, I get the passion and I love it. I understand you have a position you want to express, and I applaud that. There are many people who don’t have the courage or confidence to speak up and of course those who just don’t care. I even detect the venom that can be released through what appears to be frustration. I assume (which is dangerous) that the intent is mainly to be informative and convincing, not belligerent.

However, it is my belief you have to lend support to your opinion. Some legitimate references, facts, sources, etc. The apparent division of thought and beliefs in this country are brutal and unrelenting. The public rancor has become so paralyzing that the only chance there seems to be to get someone to listen is to interrupt and/or out yell them. Even when it is just your opinion you should clearly state so.

It’s difficult and irritating (but necessary) to preface your positions before engaging in a conversation. Our society can have multiple meanings for the same word or term. I certainly don’t want to be talking about apples when my counterpart is talking about oranges. Have we lost our ability to discuss what America is?

I encourage everyone to voice their opinion. You are a valuable resource with a now limited freedom of speech. Please can’t we better control our basic instincts and elevate our communications to a more civilized level?

Those of you old enough may recall a television program called “Dragnet.” Do you remember Sgt. Joe Friday saying “just the facts ma’am, just the facts.”