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The Arbiter of All This

Just when you thought some of the letters to the editor couldn’t get more offensive, along comes Everett Barber with his self-righteous Oct. 28 letter “The Current Vigorous Discussion.” Mr. Barber sanctimoniously states: “I am proud to be counted among the Guilford residents once again comfortable displaying an American flag.” He writes that: “Many of us have felt that our flag had become so associated with one political party that we feared sending the wrong message by displaying it on our homes or in our yards.” He continues: “For us, the flag does not stand for a kind of nationalism that pits us against the world.” Instead, in his opinion, the flag is a symbol of inclusiveness, among other things.

As a matter of public record, currently Everett Barber is a registered Democrat. I can only conclude that the party he’s alluding to is the Republican party, including any Guilford citizens belonging to it. The implication that there’s something shameful about being a Republican, that we’re a group of lepers or “deplorables” as Hillary Clinton once famously stated, that any association with Republicans should be avoided at all costs lest we make other Guilford citizens uncomfortable and fearful of flying an American flag on their property, is outrageous. The American flag is associated with no particular political party. To love one’s country, its principles, and heritage, is not to be a nationalist, but a patriot. Who appointed Everett Barber the arbiter of all this anyway?

When the pontificating Mr. Barber mentions the values of inclusiveness, apparently that doesn’t apply to Republicans. Recently, numerous letters to the Courier have been highly insulting to many Guilford citizens. Everett Barber can be proud that his letter is now one of the most obnoxious of them all.

Colleen Roberts

Guilford