In a recent Maine Voices submission (“Time to stop the leftist tail from wagging the American dog,” Nov. 4) seven “guideposts of American civilization” were cited to help us understand the so-called liberal/leftist divide. Sadly, these “guideposts” are inaccurate or gross exaggerations. They demonize the left wing of the Democratic party and thus contribute to the polarization which plagues our public discourse. Here is how I would rephrase them:

• Today’s leftists believe that race is important, not “race is everything.”
• Leftists support the safety nets provided by Scandinavian countries, not “the shared misery of socialism.”
• Leftists see nationalism as dangerous when espoused as white nationalism, not “nationalism as fascism.”
• Some leftists see many white Americans as holding racist, sexist and homophobic views, not America as a “racist, sexist, homophobic hellhole.”
• Some of today’s leftists have contributed to cancel culture, not “have birthed a cancel culture.”
• Leftists see Western civilization as threatened by white supremacy, not a “euphemism for white supremacy.”
• Leftists value the separation between church and state, not “hold religion in contempt.”

As we know, words matter, especially when conspiracy theories and alternative facts hold so many people captive.

Joe Hardy
Wells