Robert B. Charles’ op-ed in the Aug. 10 Maine Sunday Telegram (“Cancellation by defamation will not work in Maine“) didn’t strike me as kind. Its tone put me off — from the opening unsubstantiated claim that Mr. Charles is “the GOP’s best chance to be Maine’s next governor” to the closing veiled threat that he’ll take legal action against people who don’t share his opinions or do what he wants, like talking with him before writing about him. “Watch what they do, not what they say” came to mind.

Mr. Charles has split wood and wears flannel like many of us. Unlike many of us, he is an attorney who says “facts matter.” They sure do, so I was surprised to see his opinions stated as “facts.” His very first “fact” is Maine “has become a leaderless … Democrat-led mess.” I disagree with his sweeping opinion and know many agree with me. While it’s easy to label whole groups of people or circumstances as good or bad, these binary choices limit respectful, productive conversation. There is nothing kind here.

Leaders know opinions aren’t fact. If they don’t, they aren’t fit to lead. If they do and still choose to confuse the two, it’s worse because they are deliberately trying to deceive us. People who distort reality, spread hatred as patriotism, demean others, believe they’re above reproach and think they alone have all the answers are not only unfit to lead, they are dangerous.

Martha Harveywebster
Gardiner