Knoxville News Sentinel

I want to thank guest columnist Michael Strickland for solidifying for me what has troubled me most about U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr.’s recent response to requests for a town hall meeting. Both Duncan and Strickland state that such an event would culminate in "ugly and perhaps violent acts committed not by the great people he represents, but by the radical people that seem to enjoy acts of ugliness. These are the people he calls kooks." The assumption is that those radical people are intent on being disruptive and committing ugly and violent acts. Further, Strickland’s statement implies that Duncan represents only a certain segment of the folks in his district – the “great” ones.

We can, as Strickland suggests, write letters and make phone calls. We do. Often the phone isn’t answered. The responses, if any, are typically form letters that are condescending in tone. I did write to Duncan. I have yet to receive a response.

If Duncan is uncomfortable with a town hall meeting format, I understand. It requires skill and confidence to facilitate an open discussion. Duncan could have selected a facilitator for the meeting, or he could have just declined. However, to call the constituents making the request belittling names and assume any meeting would have erupted into violence is not OK. It is becoming the norm to use name-calling and bullying tactics to attempt to silence anyone who voices a concern, identifies a violation of human rights or just requests an audience.

In Strickland’s words, “The right to have and express an opinion is at the core of” our rights as Americans. I have every intention of exercising that right. I will continue to express my opinions and beliefs. I will not resort to name calling. But, most importantly, I will not be silenced.

Diane Gardner, Knoxville