KINGSTON- The online comments section of a local newspaper provided another example of nuanced and subtle debate that, while not settling the matter in question fully, nevertheless served to illuminate and flesh out the claims made by both sides, offering pleasurable intellectual combat for participants and food for thought for readers.
The article, “Trump and Pelosi square off on new immigration restrictions,” was posted at 7:03 a.m. today on the Times-Herald Freeman website. Within minutes, thoughtful, good-faith comments began to appear.
As always, commenters stuck faithfully to the point in question, letting the occasional spelling or grammatical errors made by their opponents pass without mention and never launching ad hominem attacks, which are considered gauche on such sites.
Furthermore, the patriotism of the president’s critics was never questioned, nor was racism alleged on the part of supporters.
“For who can say what motivations unvoiced or prejudices unknown (even unto the commenters themselves) lay behind the arguments being made?” stated rfvanhouten, a frequent contributor.
On a thread that ran to over 100 spirited exchanges, rfvanhouten, an avowed Democrat, and nyjetsdude88, a confirmed Republican, engaged in a debate that explored not just the circumstances of the pending executive order by the president and the events leading up to it, but the history of American immigration policy and the broader question of citizenship generally, dating from colonial to recent times, as well as a subtle and erudite comparison with a selection of foreign cases, including ancient Babylon, Periclean Athens and the Republic of Florence.
The back-and-forth, once concluded, prompted applause among the thread-lurkers and newspaper moderators.
“We’re mainly a local paper, but it’s always interesting to publish Trump-related content from the Associated Press just to see the high-level dialogue it inspires,” said senior editor Ivan La Jolla.
As top commenters, the two later met at the Socrates Club, a wood-paneled, members-only room within the Times-Herald Freeman building, where they enjoyed brandy and cigars with fellow club members, the paper’s editorial staff and an enormous ill-tempered Persian cat named “Ira,” the club’s unofficial mascot.
“At the end of the day, we both want what is best for this country,” said nyjetsdude88. “Shared prosperity, national unity transcending racial and class barriers, and a better future for our children. We just disagree on the best ways to get there.”
rfvanhouten nodded emphatically.
“If we Americans assumed the worst about those with whom we disagree politically, we wouldn’t last very long as a nation!”
