Speak openly, listen intently, and bullies fade away

Courage. Dan Rather closed his newscasts with that one word — and for good reason. With the passing of the Greatest Generation, whose heroism knew no bounds in World War II, courage has been in shorter supply than jobs were in the Great Depression.

Last week, when President Trump decided to ban three news organizations from the White House press room because he didn’t like their news coverage, he was going against court rulings as well as democratic decency. The First Amendment simply doesn’t allow government officials to punish journalists who they may dislike.

Other White House reporters, even from news organizations that often blindly support the president, criticized his action. Some refused to cover a few White House events. But, as a group, they lacked the courage to join their banned colleagues and refuse to enter the White House press room until all journalists — even those whose opinions Trump doesn’t like — are allowed in.

It’s not just the Washington press corps that lacks a type of courage that used to play a vital role in our democracy. Even hometown residents with opinions on very mundane issues are afraid to come forward.

This past week, we received a letter from one such citizen, concerned about destruction of sidewalks and erection of what the writer called a barndominium that looks remarkably huge and commercial in what otherwise is a quiet residential neighborhood.

The letter made a lot of sense and should be something city officials and voters ponder. But it arrived unsigned, and like nearly all respected newspapers we won’t print unsigned letters.

“I did not sign this,” the complainer wrote, “because I know how the city works. I am not going to suffer repercussion for myself or my family.”

We at the newspaper sympathize — perhaps more than the writer knows. But, as we’ve learned and White House correspondents and local letter writers need to learn, democracy isn’t a “sit back and relax” form of government. You have to be willing to speak out, risk criticism, challenge bullies, and listen to others with whom you may disagree but essentially are trying to do the same as you.

Too often these days, people adopt a pattern of least resistance — a cowardice that allows them to speak only in hushed tones to close friends for fear that someone somewhere might disagree or seek revenge.

Bullies always win if no one challenges them. Only when someone has the courage to stand up for what’s right and in opposition to what’s wrong can true and productive dialogue occur.

It’s not just the courage to speak but also the courage to listen that makes democracy possible. That’s why such things as county commissioners’ aborted attempt to prevent criticism would have been the first step toward creating government of public employees, by public employees, and for government employees instead of the people.

Democracy isn’t neat and tidy. Others will say things that make your blood boil, and whether you believe it or not, you will say things that make theirs boil, too. But the only way forward is for all of us to have the courage to speak and act and the courage to allow others to do the same, even if it’s in a diametrically opposed direction.

We’re stronger together not if we act as a single harnessed animal under someone else’s control but if we exercise and celebrate the diverse opinions we all have and, after all that openness, respect each other enough to find common ground.

— ERIC MEYER