I am appalled at the full-page piece in back of the July 12 issue of The Park Record degrading the team of people who refer to themselves as The Elders. The content of this ad was disturbing due to the directed attack that personally denigrates and dismisses a group of people who have dedicated their lives to helping make this town a better place, but there are several other issues that are far more concerning.
The first is that the attack is anonymous. I have no problems with anyone publicly expressing their disagreements with the residents of the town. Discourse is integral to a healthy, growing community, but to hide in the shadows and fire an attack behind the veil of anonymity is akin to guerrilla warfare. It is stooping to the lowest form of criticism — and it begs the question of what do the people responsible for the ad have to hide? This town is too small for this kind of behavior. Be big enough to put your name on such an attack and own your disagreement. Hiding in the shadows makes you look particularly small and cowardly.
The second has to do with why The Park Record allowed such an ad to be run in the newspaper. Shame on the paper for allowing this piece to run anonymously. No one is allowed to submit a letter to the editor without fully disclosing their name, phone number or email address, yet the paper allowed essentially a full page op-ed with no authors named. This quite frankly is unacceptable. I would strongly encourage all business and advertisers in the paper to withhold further support until the Park Record issues a formal apology for such an egregious act against the integrity of our town.
The third and perhaps most concerning issue is who have we become? Where in anyone’s mind does this type of act belong in our small town? How does this behavior become acceptable to anyone’s thinking? The authors of this piece clearly are ignorant of so much of what makes Park City the amazing place that drew us all here in the first place.
Disagreement is, and always has been, essential to our growth — and frank, open discussions are essential parts of that process, but this ad clearly conveys the message that the authors have no interest in discussion or working towards common ground. This attack is a blatant attempt to undermine a group of people who have spent years living in this town, putting themselves on the front line and publicly working to improve the lifestyle for everyone who lives here. What happened to common respect and decency?
What happened to open, civil discussion? Where did we lose the idea that we can disagree and still ski a run together, or ride a bike together, or just have a have a cup of coffee, look each other in the eyes, and agree to disagree.
I personally know almost all the people listed as The Elders and I don’t agree with everything they have written or stand for. But I do know that each of them has an intense and powerful love for this community and would do anything they are capable of to continue to help improve this town. This is clear by simply looking at the track records and contributions that these people have made — and continue to make.
I find it disgustingly hateful that there is an attempt to anonymously dismiss this group of concerned and dedicated neighbors and fellow citizens. Whoever is behind this ad, I have little respect for you and I ask why are you afraid to come forward and own your discontent? Sadly, you, and this behavior, are a significant factor in the issues facing our beloved town.
David Staley
Park City