To Mr. Kelly and Mr. Greenberg:

In your last column, you described yourselves as “conservatives, but not Republicans.” May I interpret conservative values to include upholding democratic traditions, treating one another with civility, and promoting common decency? If so, I would like to see those values promoted within this space.  These are values I hope are shared by all residents of Hamilton County.  President Trump does not reflect these values.  He actively undermines democratic traditions when he berates judges. He shows an utter lack of civility in his petulant and petty tweets about his critics.  He lies without shame, boasts at a prayer breakfast, and accepts zero responsibility for his own actions. Why defend this man?  Why even tepidly indulge his fixations, as you did when you suggested he avoid a “deep and broad investigation into voter fraud”? This man has degraded our national culture. Do not let him degrade our local culture as well. Be a voice for Hoosier decency.

Agree to treat all people with dignity despite their differing viewpoints, unlike Donald Trump who called journalists “scum.” Agree not to scapegoat as Donald Trump does when he suggests all Syrian refugees are potential terrorists. Try not to draw gross generalizations from single anecdotes, as you did when you used one tweet about Donald Trump’s son Barron as an opportunity to take a dig at the “main stream media.”  Your column, for its many flaws, is more legitimately a part of “main stream media” than the Twitter account of the entertainment writer who took the aforementioned jab at Barron Trump. So as purveyors of media, agree to promote evidence-based reasoned discourse. That is my plea.

Collin Lawrence, Fishers