Editor, The Smithfield Times:

I read a political quote from a year ago that said, “When you worship power, compassion and mercy will look like sins.” 

Written almost 100 years ago, a book about political theory stated that political actions and motives can be reduced to the distinction between “friend and enemy.” It explained that an enduring political community can only exist when a community draws these distinctions … us versus them. Thus for preservation of your political community, it is destructive to seek accommodation. When a community accepts the friend and enemy distinction, it becomes immoral to treat your enemies with kindness as it weakens your political community in its fight against a foe.

I read much of the above in a national publication recently. It saddened me to realize that such political distinctions describe the behavior that I am experiencing in my own community. The friend and enemy distinctions occur in Facebook postings, board meetings, etc., and recently even concerning membership in a local book club. 

It is troubling that the seeking of power and promotion of division has caused a further deepening of cultural divisions in Surry County. At the present time, it is not a great place to reside unless you enjoy the fight against a foe. 

It has me pondering if the county in which I live will ever resolve the us-versus-them mentality. If not, the county can not flourish for everyone and be what it truly could be.

 

Michael Drewry

Wakefield