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November 30, 2009

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Letter: Respect is lost in mudslinging

Thursday, Oct. 28, 2004 | 9 a.m.

We Americans take pride in calling ourselves a civilized nation. In this troubling time of political smears, indicted politicians and those in charge who refuse to take responsibility for their actions or admit mistakes, I wonder if we can still call ourselves civilized.

Civilized people do not attack or insult each other, damage each other's property or reputation, scorn each other's religion or way of life or lie and cheat in order to win.

Civilization is a condition in which politeness, mutual respect, integrity, and fairness have evolved out of violence, vandalism, scorn, aggression and brutality. Each year seems to bring further regression into greed, ruthlessness and disregard of anyone or anything but self interest.

Technology is the nation's muscle, but civilization is its spirit and when it is lost, so is the nation. One thing our politicians should learn is that a leader may acquire power, but respect has to be earned and mud thrown is ground lost.

BETTY L. BYRD

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