Shouts of "Liar" and "It's your fault"

Thought for the day

From local school board meetings to city council chambers coast to coast, parents and civic leaders have been videotaped loudly interrupting -- even threatening -- local elected officials as they try to conduct business.  

So much so, I wasn't surprised Tuesday night when GOP members of Congress shouted "Liar" and "It's your fault" during President Biden's State of the Union address.  Who knows?  Maybe they even received praise from House colleagues for those outbursts.  

Given this backdrop of inappropriate behavior, I have to ask:  What's next?  Parents of a 4th grader being celebrated for verbally assaulting their child's teacher because little Johnny or Susie wasn't picked to be window monitor?

I believe the lynch pin of democracy is everyone is entitled to express his or her opinion.  Call me old fashioned, but I'd like to add this caveat:  People, clean up your act.  Your rhetoric isn't just undignified, it's dangerous.

The Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol should be proof enough that words matter.  This should especially ring true when it comes to a joint session of Congress.  Right?

-DF