The recently published opinion piece that was thinly veiled as reproach to those who would discourage participation in public affairs had the effect to do just that. If unfounded criticism is to be effectively rebutted, more unfounded criticism won’t do the job. Two wrongs don’t make a right. The diatribe against a political party to question the integrity of two candidates for the Nashua BOE had the result of discouraging participation. Participation in public affairs should be encouraged with solid reasoning and not criticized with hackneyed phrases. Mentioning the party by name nine times further discouraged participation. Nine times was eight times too many. There was almost no encouragement offered in the opinion to support participation in public affairs to contrast discouraging behavior. Notwithstanding the failure of the reproach, the writer is still recognized as a long-standing respected participant in public service. Hopefully, this reply will open a space to consider the opposition as good people, too.

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