LETTER: A question of decency and free speech – The Daily News of Newburyport

To the editor:

You might have missed the story about Jared Schmeck, the self-described patriot who ended his Christmas Eve conversation with President Biden by taunting, Lets Go Brandon.

This followed Mr. Bidens call to Jareds four children to discuss Santa Claus imminent arrival.

Classy guy that Jared. So arent the patriots who display F-Joe Biden flags on T-shirts, barns, overpasses and rooftops anywhere children can see.

They chant their slogan at ball games and NASCAR races. They float their boats in parades featuring Nativity scenes with signage telling President Biden just what he can do to himself. Patriotic hearts burst with pride at the show of Christian family values.

I suppose Lets Go Brandon is an improvement over the usual crass F-bomb fare of the base. Pity anyone whose name is Brandon.

Lets not talk politics. Lets talk old-fashioned decency. Decency is at the heart of the issue here. Let me refresh your memory. Decency: Marked by moral integrity. Conforming to standards of propriety.

Do decent people yell the F-word in unison in public with children in their midst? Do they wear shirts with the same message in public?

Moral integrity: Do decent people admire a man who has been proven over and over again to be an adulterer, a liar, a cheater and a white-collar thief? The nuns who schooled me would charitably describe him as low caliber.

Biden supporters didnt advertise their deeply felt loathing with irreverent public chants embedded with swears.

I dont recall seeing F-Trump banners anywhere or parades with flags insulting him on roads, rivers, highways. I dont recall Biden supporters sporting swear words on their bumper stickers while trying to run the former guys campaign buses off the road. Or obscenely berating his boorish antics where children could see or hear as they rode their bikes.

Im not a fan of everything President Biden does but I admire the man. I recognize he is a decent human being trying to move the country forward. Being decent should be a basic requirement for anyone serving in a public capacity and frankly, its a low bar for such an important position.

The former guy behaved as though the bar doesnt exist.

Barely a handful of Republicans have summoned the courage to stand up for decency.

They are summarily being run out of office by a seething base. Last year, local Republicans made excuses for hate speech in Salisbury by proclaiming the offender had First Amendment rights. They didnt chastise his indecency, they defended it! Why? Hes one of them and he votes.

Democracy doesnt thrive solely on political theory, protocols and beliefs. It relies on human decency and good character to be effective.

Sadly, Jared and other patriots demonstrate how weak the guardrails of democracy have become.

The former guy told thousands of Capitol insurrectionists who maimed and injured scores of police officers, We love you. Youre very special. Such a patriot! Such a decent man!

Its not entirely Jareds fault that hes a patriotic jerk.

MONIQUE GREILICH

Salisbury

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LETTER: A question of decency and free speech - The Daily News of Newburyport