Democratic View: It’s time to end hostility and embrace humanity

By Shawna Black

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this column are those of author Shawna Black and are not representative of the thoughts or opinions of Tompkins Weekly. 

In the past year, we have witnessed a troubling rise in hostility between political parties and across our communities. What once may have been a spirited debate has often turned into anger, mistrust, and even violence. This escalation is dangerous—not only to our democracy, but also to the people who dedicate their lives to serving it.

Elected officials, government workers, and staff across every level of public service  are facing an increased risk of threats and violence simply because of the work they do. Locally, we have seen an increase in threats in the form of emails, texts, phone calls and in person interactions.  

No one should ever fear for their safety while engaging in public service, attending a public meeting, or carrying out the responsibilities of their job. The normalization of political violence tears at the very fabric of our democracy and our essence of community. A system built on intimidation and fear is no longer a free and just system. In fact, many years ago we would have looked at other countries that have inner turmoil and had an instant reaction of sympathy and dismay.

We must acknowledge this reality, and it is up to every one of us to respond. The responsibility is not one party’s alone—it belongs to all of us, across political lines, across institutions, and across communities. 

Ending hostility begins with recognizing each other’s humanity. With that said it doesn’t mean we must always agree. Our neighbors, our colleagues, even our opponents are not our enemies. They are people who care about this country, who want to see their families and communities thrive and be safe—just as all of us do.

To move forward, we must take several steps:

1. Commit to civility in public discourse. This means calling out threats, dehumanizing language, and conspiracy-driven rhetoric wherever we encounter them—whether from political leaders, in the media, or among ourselves.

2. Invest in safety and support for public servants. Governments must provide resources and protections to ensure that elected officials, staff, and workers can do their jobs without fear of harassment or violence.  

3. Promote cross-party dialogue. Regular opportunities for bipartisan conversations both formal and informal—help build trust and reduce the tendency to see political opponents as adversaries.  

4. Engage the public in constructive ways. Community forums, civic education, and respectful listening sessions can redirect frustration into problem-solving, rather than division.  

The truth is: we will always have differences. That is the strength of democracy and that’s what makes America great. But we cannot let disagreement grow into hatred, or opposition into violence. It is possible—and necessary—for us to argue passionately about ideas while protecting the dignity, safety, and humanity of every person involved. Violence and threats will never be the answer.

Let us choose to model the democracy in our county that we want to protect—one that generations before have died to create.  A democracy that allows us to debate fiercely but reject intimidation; one that disagrees openly but resolves differences in a peaceful manner; one that values every voice without tolerating violence.

If we do this together, we will not only end the hostility that is dividing us as a nation and community, but also reaffirm the promise of our democracy for many generations to come.   

Shawna Black has served on the Tompkins County Legislature since 2017. She lives in Northeast Ithaca with her wife and children.