Our society’s lack of leadership is a disaster

Re “The thin veneer of civilization,” Opinion, Sept. 8

Timothy Garton Ash’s strident piece is one of several recent apt reflections on what I call the fundamental lack of dialogue in our society today. How can one learn from disasters -- much less prevent future ones, natural or man-made? Our society has lost its capacity to look past the ever-present howls of single-issue litmus tests, and it is not looking at the fundamental shared challenges that face us as humans and Americans regardless of our social status, politics, values or faith. Every one of us -- not just our political leaders or our media -- has abdicated our responsibility of leadership by letting earnest and sometimes contentious dialogue of substance give way to the shortsighted selfishness exhibited by our leaders. Consensus on critical issues by opposite camps is a hallmark of a civilized society that can move forward while agreeing to disagree. We’re not only not moving forward, we’re regressing.

NICK PETERS

Monrovia