Editorial - Political debates should promote solutions

What has politics in this country become?

It is unrealistic to ask all Americans to agree on political issues, but can't people act at least somewhat decent to each other?

Shortly after the one-year anniversary of the Jan. 8, 2011 shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords at a campaign rally in Tucson, Ariz., five Missouri state senators – all Democrats – found stickers on their office doors resembling rifle crosshairs.

It is safe to say that most Americans do not wish violence toward others, especially our elected officials. But, when reading the comments on CNN's website regarding the story, one might think the opposite.

"Crosshairs need to get a bit closer; then maybe we will get Congress to remember who they work for," commented one reader who posts under the alias "luckylemmons."

Debates between Democrats and Republicans are common on the website, but one would hope that petty political differences could be put aside and people would show more concern for the threatened politicians than hateful political rhetoric.

But, heated political debates continued, and followers of both parties posted insensitive comments.

"It's (the) Republican's policy. Their way to conduct business is ‘It's my way or no way.' They claim they believe in God, but they turn Christ's teaching upside down. Instead of helping the poor, they take from the poor and give to the rich. It's sad but it's true," wrote wcnea567. While the reader may not praise the threats sent to the senators, the person is generalizing all Republicans to be radical and violent.

Although many readers did defend traditional American values, the number of insensitive posts (as well as number of "likes" of such posts) is alarming.

Why can't Americans have an intelligent debate about politics? The readers who are unable to post a thoughtful comment as to why they want their political party to win should either educate themselves or simply keep out of political debates.

Encouraging violence is not the way to a better America. Use your voice to vote for worthy candidates, not to promote a lynching.

Whether or not it sinks, we are in this boat together. Americans must consider party affiliations as minor differences between one another and look at each other as Americans, instead of as Democrats or Republicans.

We all want to elect leaders with effective solutions to fix our economy and improve education – among other issues – so "debate" politics, don't argue.

As the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "We must learn to live together as brothers, or we will die together as fools."