I would like to submit the following for consideration in the “Letters to the Editor” section published in EastBayRI. 

It is very rare that I will reach out to an entity and respond to a published letter.  As I have aged, I have learned that a three-day waiting period is wise before touching the nib of a pen to paper. After such time, generally the desire to respond has passed and life goes on.  Sadly, that is not the case with my feelings toward the letter penned by Ms. Megan Gonzalez published last week.

As I read her piece, I was not angered, but rather greatly disappointed. I felt that the composition illustrated wonderfully how far the attitude toward the local political/election process has degraded in terms of comparison with only a decade or two ago. The term “divisiveness” has been tossed about quite a bit on the national level, and in reality, it seems to have permeated even small rural towns as of late. 

I understand her frustration with the fact that unforeseen resignations and appointments to political office can be upsetting. Occasionally, these do occur, and they are governed by law and strict protocol as to how they are allotted. They have happened in the past, and all political parties have benefitted from said appointments as was indicated by the editor’s addendum under the published letter. I am confident that the author was well aware of this process, yet still formed her thoughts with divisiveness as the underlying theme. It was divisive to frame her letter as a structured conspiracy perpetrated by “Republicans.”

I also felt that it was divisive to lump “Republicans” together as if they all are some manner of conniving straight-ticket voting zealots whom all act as one. Further divisiveness was conveyed in her choice to single out by name individuals in the community while attaching negative attributes to them in an effort to remove the “humanity” from those people; an attempt at “cancelling.” 

As I reflect on growing up in Little Compton, I do not remember political divisiveness being “normal” here in town. There were “hubs” of activity in various places around town where groups would meet face to face and discuss/debate political views and issues with great gusto. Although there were occasionally some “ruffled feathers,” those same individuals (regardless of party) were enjoying a coffee together in short order and looking forward to the next days gathering.

I am thankful that I was able to see/attend, and listen in to some of the last of these gatherings at Wilbur’s General Store back when they still had their round black heating stove. Issues were hotly debated around that stove: nobody left cancelled, nobody was stripped of their humanity, and at the end of the session, everyone left feeling as if they were a member of the community and welcome to return. A practice and sentiment that I would very much like to see in town again in the future. 

The modern Latin alphabet consists of 26 letters and some limited punctuation. It is a very powerful tool, and each one of us has equal access to those symbols. Some people, (Hemmingway, E.B. White, and countless other great authors) use them to captivate, and others to maim and smear.  How an author assembles those letters into words, words into sentences, and sentences into thoughts is a window into their soul. In my opinion, those who choose to use them to sling mud, or perpetuate falsehoods, are not constructive contributors to society.

Brandon Pineo

Little Compton

Pineo was a Little Compton School Committee candidate on the November ballot.

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