Some civility, please

It's been one of the most contentious topics yet, and as the time approaches when Wal-Mart will submit its formal application for subdivision approval related to the supercenter, things are only heating up.

Over the past few months, we've had several people submit letters to the editor on the subject, only to call us the next day and ask us to not print them because they felt that their business or family would be subject to harassment for expressing their views on the proposed supercenter.

Unfortunately, this continues to be the case. While taking some verbal abuse for others' opinions expressed on the opinion page is a normal part of our work week, the situation has deteriorated considerably when private citizens are receiving harassing phone calls at home and at their places of business for expressing their opinion.

Recent letter writers have reported being the subject of personal attacks and name-calling after their letters have appeared in the paper, and we can only imagine that tempers will continue to flare as the formal application approaches.

Attacks are coming from both sides. If you say you are in favor of the supercenter, you will be attacked for being against local small businesses. If you say you are against the supercenter, you will be attacked for being "against capitalism."

People in favor of the supercenter are accused of wanting to put existing local companies out of business in order to save a few cents, while those against the supercenter are labeled as "whiny" and "bleeding hearts."

Local business owners who have said publicly that they aren't worried about the supercenter have been inundated with harassing phone calls, while those who have put out petitions against the supercenter have had customers call them "anti-American."

While a healthy discussion about the issue is good for all of us, we'd like to remind folks that berating other people who have a different opinion doesn't get your point across any better — it only degrades it.