As recent transplants to the area, our family has taken interest in the local newspaper to learn about community activities and local vendors. In so doing, I was horrified to read an editorial entitled "Keeping the Dogs at Bay" by staff writer Bill Morgan, published on 7/7/16.

 

Through thinly veiled metaphor, Morgan compares immigrants to nuisance animals, therefore removing humanity from a very complex issue. These are human beings, not dogs.

 

Editor Gary Meyer: Please explain how publishing this rhetoric serves the needs and challenges of a community, county and state growing in immigrant population. Ask yourself: does this kind of "news" encourage meaningful dialogue or promote xenophobia?

 

Local businesses who advertise in the Citizen-Tribune: Does this editorial represent your views?

 

Many in our community would like to know so we can support businesses that align with historical American values of recognizing and affirming differences in ethnicity, culture and religious freedom.

 

Demonization of "the other" through propagandist figures of speech isn't new; it's a tactic used by politicians and supporters to promote worldviews fueled by fear and emotion. Morgan's is more of the same: No facts or logic, just mimicry of currently-fashionable blathering. Ain't that some s---?