Gordon Forgey

The lines are drawn and opinions are set.

It is hard to remember when Americans were so divided and so antagonistic to opposing views.

The last time may have been more than forty years ago during the Vietnam War. The national debate over it reached much the same volume as we are hearing now.

Then, as now, opinions were entrenched and few would budge from their views.

Opinions in this presidential election, whether expressed in the media or over a cup of coffee, are rigid and unforgiving.

All the harsh noise reduces the chance for meaningful national discussions and leads only to more yelling a...