What have we become?

Jim Vallet, for the Fernley Reporter

On Friday, March 13 2020, I was in the clubhouse of the Fernley Golf Club in Fernley, when I heard maybe the most disgusting words I have heard in my life.

“I don’t know, I hope a lot of liberals back there catch the coronavirus and die. I swear I do,” a patron sitting at the bar declared.

His companions did not respond verbally. Sadly, neither did I. When I finished registering, I left without saying or doing anything.

My God, where are we? Wishing death upon people because of their political affiliations in the middle of a pandemic. What would Abe Lincoln or Ronald Reagan think? 

To be fair, this person was, apparently, quite under the influence of alcohol as evidenced by his failure to speak even one loud sentence that did not contain the “F…” word at least two or three times in the presence of the female bartender. So, maybe we can give this guy a pass and say it was the booze talking. Or, maybe we shouldn’t, I don’t know. I do know that his words were disgusting to me, and hopefully, for all people, because that’s what we are. Primarily, we are not liberals or conservatives, we are human beings, and if you’re not scared right now, you’re not paying attention.

If anyone should answer this by saying they have heard liberals saying the same, or nearly the same words, I say you missed my point. A liberal wishing death upon a conservative for his political beliefs is just as bad as the drunk in Fernley, and if I heard it, I would call it out the same way. If you criticize me, call me out for not speaking to the loudmouth’s face, not for pointing out what should be the obvious.

This is about humanity, decency, and compassion. We can disagree without being disagreeable. Politics must end at the hospital door.