In her defense of Mayor Nick Isgro printed on April 19, Sandra Sullivan asserts that the student survivors of the Florida school massacre “will come up against criticism” for expressing their views in public (“If recall succeeds, Waterville loses,” letter). That is as it should be. These young people have courageously entered the arena of public debate and deserve to be taken seriously. Taking them seriously may mean respectfully disagreeing with them. Shielding them from legitimate criticism would be to belittle them and deprive them of the respect they deserve.
However, Ms. Sullivan misses a crucial point. Isgro’s record, political positions, or even his criticism of a student activist are not the issues. The issue is human decency. His tweet was not respectful disagreement, but a mean-spirited insult directed against a young person who has undergone unimaginable trauma. Isgro owes that student, and the residents of Waterville, an apology.
Harry Vayo
Waterville
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