LETTER: Selective blame on the decline of political civility

I am compelled to respond to Rita Ransom’s recent letter, “Bad behavior.” She begins by condemning political extremism, a concern most Americans share. But she then narrows the blame to President Donald Trump and presents today’s political climate as if it were created by him alone.

That view overlooks a great deal. In recent years, harsh rhetoric, personal attacks and open hostility have come from every direction in national politics. Many observers have pointed out that the level of contempt directed at Mr. Trump and his supporters has been unusually intense, with language that has gone far beyond ordinary political criticism. Commentators across the spectrum have noted that this climate has coincided with multiple attempts on his life — a situation that is unprecedented in modern American politics.

Ms. Ransom argues that civility has “all but disappeared.” Yet her letter assigns exclusive responsibility to one political opponent. Selective blame does not reduce extremism, it reinforces it. When we pretend that only one side contributes to the anger in our politics, we deepen the very divisions we claim to oppose.

If we are serious about restoring civility, we must acknowledge that the deterioration in our political culture has been a long, bipartisan process. Pointing fingers in one direction may feel satisfying, but it does nothing to rebuild the mutual respect and restraint that a healthy democracy requires.