Rejection of democracy

Dear Editor:I was totally saddened and disheartened by Mr. Vespera's letter. It must be a miserable worldview to think that the majority of the American people have no conscience and ought to be ashamed of themselves for voting to re-elect President Obama. It is one of the mysteries of life that perfectly fine, reasonable people can hold opposite opinions and beliefs on fundamental issues. For example, while Mr. Vesper believes that some Catholics have drifted "farther away from the crucial issues," I believe that they see cloaked in the rhetoric of "right to life" a desire to roll back the clock on the gains that women have made in this country, including not too long ago the right to vote. People that I love and respect disagree with me. It's my problem if I am troubled by that, and shame on me if I can't get over it. It would be wrong of me to say, as Mr. Vesper did, that those who disagree with me have no conscience. And it is wrong, and frankly expresses a profound rejection of democracy, to have the smug arrogance to try to call down shame on the majority of the American People. Frank Kearns Downey

********** Published: November 15, 2012 - Volume 11 - Issue 31