Web Letters: Olbermann's Hot News

Our country has become so divided and so polarized. I am trying to maintain my objectivity, and not force my views on other people. The right is doing it--Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly et al.--as well as the left (though the only one of them who comes to mind is the forthcoming Keith Olbermann, formerly of SportsCenter and The Daily Show fame).

I have said this before, and I will say it again: Partisanship is tearing this country apart. It is rending the very fabric of our society, and that is not just hyperbole.

I applaud and support Mr. Olbermann's right to free speech, as well as that of Hannity and O'Reilly and the others. I just pray that they realize as Montesquieu said (and this is paraphrasing), "With every right comes a responsibility not to abuse that right." These so-called "pundits" and even "news anchors" on both sides of the political spectrum are so caught up in making the other side look bad that they are blind to what they are doing to our country.

Each and every one of these partisan players needs to get their heads out of their asses and realize that no good can come of partisan bickering and name-calling (and that goes for a lot of people on the blogs, too). How can you have an honest conversation with someone and expect to accomplish anything when one side calls you a "libtard" and the other retorts with "right-wing nut job"? Grow up. I don't have time for folks like you, from either side. If you want to have an intelligent conversation with me, fine. I am always more than willing to listen to other views; even though I won't always agree with them, I will never insult them.

Steven Reitz
Writer/editor, TheReitzReport.com

Tionesta, PA