Vestal personally attacks

Shawn Vestal resorts to name-calling and character attack on Jim McDevitt. The lowest form of argument is the ad hominem personal attack.

Unable to persuade, Vestal personally attacks McDevitt, saying he “doesn’t listen” because “he demonstrates one of the main sources of fuel for systemic, institutional racism: well-intentioned white people at the helm of organizations who don’t accept evidence of racial disparities or listen to the experiences of people of color, who respond in personally defensive ways, and who take it upon themselves to instruct others about the “real problem” in their own community.”

Though aimed at McDevitt, that description could just as well go the other way. Vestal says that listening to others demonstrates integrity, and urges McDevitt to do so. It’s true that listening to evidence shows integrity. It’s true that honest disagreement based on the evidence shows integrity. It’s true that honestly seeking middle ground to resolve disagreement on the evidence shows integrity.

However, blind or forced acceptance of evidence and politically correct thinking do not. Neither does name calling.

Mike and Kathy Casey

Spokane