This quotation explains why people like Amos defeat their own purposes:

"For the first time in my life I voted for a Republican president. Maureen Dowd's Nov. 6 column, "Don't look for healing, reconciliation from this bunch," was offensive to me. I have two sons-in-law who are on active duty (one in Afghanistan) facing the reality of jihad every day, and her casual use of the term demeans their service.

Dowd should realize that one of the reasons many former "blues" went "red" is the result of her (and others like her) over-the-top inflammatory remarks. Never have I read such disrespect directed toward our leaders. Four years of "stupid, liar, cuckoo clock, deserter" was all this former blue voter could stand. Somehow, there must be a standard of decency applied to disagreement."

DIANE WOODARD
Houston Texas

Civil discourse needs a layer of grace
"Maureen Dowd's Nov. 6 column, "The red zone, a blue puddle," insulted anyone who values balanced journalism. Before Ms. Dowd next sits at her keyboard she should avail herself of a sense of proportion and a cold shower.
    Cape Codders gave 43 percent of their votes to George Bush, and the conservatives I know are neither "imbeciles" nor right-wing vulgarians trying to hijack the republic. We hope to hold the line on taxes, trim the bureaucracy, protect the homeland with a muscular foreign policy and restore a whiff of morality to the public square without imposing a faith-based doctrine on our fellow citizens.
    Most of us are civic-minded souls who pay our taxes, attend church and rake our leaves like everyone else. Some of us even hold some liberal views such as supporting gun control, a safety net for the disadvantaged and equity for women in the workplace. We do not demonize John Kerry or his supporters. And we wish both sides would provide a layer of grace over our civic discourse.
    We applaud the "Healing the Body Politic" session sponsored by the Cape Cod Interfaith Alliance but think it sad that our civic life has come to that."

    FRANK TIVNAN
    East Dennis

JJ