OPINION: Teacher 'cringes' at editor's column and 'lack of empathy'

I have lived in Kalispell since 1959, after a few years of family wanderlust thanks to the U.S. Army. Since that time, I have gleaned a decent education from the local and state schools, and have tried to pay back this community by working primarily as a teacher.

The conservative nature of this area has always felt a bit oppressive, so understandably, one of the more difficult parts of the teaching job has been to NOT force my political and religious views and opinions upon the captive audience I entertained each day; it helped to be a math teacher. However, in the last 37 years of teaching, I have had experience sticking up for the “underdog” many times. Sometimes it meant defending the learning disabled kid who was ridiculed for being in the “dumb” class; another time was aiding the Catholic student who was put down for not being a Christian. Always, no matter what the topic or circumstance, the question for me has been: Where do these kids get this information? And why is their delivery of opinion so self-righteously vicious?

The euphemistically titled Perspectives page in the Daily Inter Lake is one such source of jaw-grinding opinion, providing a safe haven for those who appear to be certain of their own correctness without a need to fact check or research. Each day I cringe with astonishment at Mr. Miele’s “2 Cents” column, but just like watching a scary movie, I cannot seem to look away.

His May 22 opinion regarding gender identity in relation to the novel “1984” clearly shows a lack of empathy and understanding for any person faced with the burden of being different. Research has shown many transgender people felt the physical gender with which they were born was not right, often very early in their life. What Mr. Miele has labeled as “wish fulfillment” for a gender-confused child is sort of a slap in the face! Why would anyone wish to be thrust into a situation with the certain promise it would lead to being bullied throughout life? Hopefully, teachers and school districts can be free to deal with gender issues and student struggles sensitively, without the weight of government funding being used to determine how to label restrooms or locker rooms.

Elections seem to bring out the worst offensiveness presented as opinion. The Republican diatribe often expressed as opinion in the Inter Lake usually inserts the old saw that everything determined to be bad is President Obama’s fault, a constant topic of the last seven-years’ ongoing lecture. In true “1984” Ministry of Truth style, this view prevails despite the fact that the Republican controlled Congress, according to the balance of powers, tends to run this country, but has vowed to obfuscate rather than govern.

As we move into this election season, consider carefully how you present your opinion. Perform a little self-reflection; ask who determines for you what is appropriate, decent, good, right and moral. Decide if you truly want a person who spouts vitriolic nastiness bordering on lunacy as the face of America to the world.

And finally, ponder the potential heartlessness of another person’s opinion, especially when it is designed to shame you into being something or someone you are not.

Gates is a resident of Kalispell.