LETTER: Are we better than this?

I would like to offer comment on the rabbit hole of circular thinking, sexism, xenophobia, and homophobia that Mr. Tim Adams took us down in his Aug. 28 retort of my Aug. 21 open letter to Ryan Zinke regarding his endorsement of Donald Trump.

The incoherent tantrum-like nature of Mr. Adams’ argument does more than my words ever could to verify my original point — supporting Donald Trump requires a serious compromise of all that is rational, honorable or dignified.

Mr. Adams’ words made me want to ask the citizens of our valley a simple question. Are we better than this?

Are we better than misogyny? Mr. Adams used the term “girly man” to refer to our current president. Putting the word “girly” in front of the word “man” and using as a modifier to imply the man is weak or less-than has always communicated something hurtful and flatly untrue about girls. There are many kinds of strength and toughness — something I learned in awe as I watched my wife give birth.

Mr. Adams also declared my daughter would be the “weak link” on the battlefield if she decided upon military service. Point of fact, if my daughter decides to pursue her surgical aspirations in the military, rest assured she is that rare breed of human being that would somehow move heaven and earth to save a wounded warrior’s life. Are we better than calling such a young lady the weak link?

Are we better than homophobia? Mr. Adams basically labeled anyone who loves differently an “unnatural blasphemer.” Point of fact, British mathematician Alan Turing played an instrumental role in deciphering Nazi Germany’s Enigma code — a singular contribution that changed life on this earth for generations to come. One might even call that contribution saintly. Turing also just so happened to create a machine that was the prototype for the computer Mr. Adams sat down to in order to write his hateful letter to me and my family. Alan Turing was as gay as they come. What was his reward for the unparalleled contributions he made to humankind? He was imprisoned for being gay. Are we as a species yet better than this?

Are we better than hate speech? In my questioning of Rep. Zinke’s Trump endorsement, I offered specific facts from the public record to support my concerns. Mr. Adams responded with hostile conjecture. Should we expect our newspaper editors in their pursuit of free speech to not become the purveyors of hate speech or character assassinations aimed at whole groups of peoples or members of our own community — even 16-year-old girls? —Todd Cardin, Kalispell