To the editor:

It’s sad to see that we have come to the point where someone who respectfully and thoughtfully disagrees with a viewpoint and doesn’t share the same values as another person is characterized as being verbally violent. Being confident and presenting substantive arguments to support one’s position has been construed as hateful, irrational, ignorant, and arrogant.

The HRC and the rest of the community should be striving to work together for the good of all. That means that those with a differing view from the members of the HRC should be respected just as the HRC and other like-minded members of the community wish to be respected.

To the LGBTQ community: You are valued and so important that it would be a sign of disrespect and a lack of caring towards you to look the other way and not address what is harmful to you and to others.

I’m hoping this expression of caring will not be considered hateful, irrational, contemptuous, arrogant, prejudiced, and verbally violent. What has been written in this and other letters to the editor has been written with much thought and with a desire to show respect and caring for all. I (and those who agree with me) are no better than anyone else. We, like you, are flawed human beings. As hard as we try, we may not always word things in the best way, but I would hope that our intention will not be mischaracterized.

To the members of this community: Let’s build on the strengths that have made our community and our nation a good place to live even as we recognize that there will always be need for improvement.

God, bless our community, and God, bless America.

Mary Thom

New Ulm