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FRACTURED AMERICA

Civil Discourse and Liberty

Civil discourse is becoming a rare commodity in today’s divided America. I recently witnessed how fragile it can be.  I was in the lounge at the Subaru service center last week, waiting for the oil to be changed in my Forester. I struck up a conversation with a woman who was having a car inspected that she had inherited. Out of the blue, she mentioned how pleased she was that President Trump was “getting rid of immigrants—because most of them are criminals.”

Before I could respond, a man in his mid-thirties who had been quietly texting at a nearby table looked up. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I couldn’t help but overhear. I’m a teacher, and what ICE is doing is criminal. Black-clad, masked men enter schools without warning and take kids—sobbing and screaming—from classrooms. It’s cruelty.”

The woman looked stunned. “Oh no,” she said. “They wouldn’t do that.”

“What makes you think that?” I asked. “Did you hear that on Fox News?”

“I don’t watch Fox News,” she insisted. “I just know!”

At that point, another man—large, well-dressed, and clearly agitated—stood up and joined in. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, lady,” he said loudly. “They’re going after law-abiding immigrants. Some of them aren’t even here illegally. You need to get your head screwed on straight.”

The woman fired back, “Where are you getting your information? The Democrats pay people to spread false news. You can’t trust it.”

Caught in the middle, with voices rising and tempers flaring, I did my best to defuse the situation. I spoke gently to the woman, telling her that it's often hard to know what to believe, which is why I try to read news from a variety of sources and fact-check when stories don’t align. Yes, it takes time, but it’s worth the effort.

She softened slightly and listened, though from the way she avoided my eyes, I could tell she wasn’t likely to dig deeper on her own. The men, clearly agitated and ready to argue further, backed off when the service attendant arrived to say my car was ready.

Later that evening, I read an article quoting Chief Justice John Roberts. In statements covered by The New York Times, The Guardian, AP News, Fox News, MSNBC, and elsewhere, Roberts condemned the dangerous rhetoric being directed at judges. He warned that inflammatory language—especially from public figures like President Trump and Senator Chuck Schumer—can incite threats or acts of violence. His message was simple: judicial independence must be protected, and reckless speech undermines our democracy.

Whether in an auto service center or on the Senate floor, we must remember that we are Americans first. Political affiliation and policy disagreements will always exist, but our nation depends on compromise, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to truth. There is no room for hatred or inflammatory rhetoric to further divide what is already a fragile democracy.

This Fourth of July weekend, I hope we all take a moment to reflect on the foundation of our country. The Statue of Liberty was raised as a

beacon of freedom and democracy. Millions of immigrants arrived at its base, welcomed by the words:

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…”

Let’s remember who we are and what we stand for, and have a happy fun-filled Fourth of July weekend.