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Attorney Ruth Schneider begins her talk on social media bullying and cyber-stalking at the Millikin University Commons in April 2019. The presentation was part of the university’s Civic Discourse Week activities.

In today’s critiques of our societal targets we’ve lost all forms of decorum and civil discourse. Everything is an extreme and everything is zero to 60 in four seconds. We trash our leaders and counter-arguers personally and in libelous fashion on social media and in public forums without fear of reprisal. It truly has become an America I fear.

It's Ok to disagree. In fact, I enjoy hearing other perspectives and viewpoints. I gain from repartee and sparring. I grow from the collisions. However, it doesn’t have to be heated and I think no less of you if you disagree with my viewpoints.

I received my first hate mail when I started writing my pieces for the Herald & Review. In fact, I received anonymous, cowardly personal attacks that ripped me online in forums. I received contact from people who tried to message me on Facebook.

It was troubling and vile, but I never stopped writing. My writing regularity just incenses the cowards more and fans their flames of discontent.

Many of my media friends have been teed up and crushed with a driving iron from time to time because of positions they took in their writing or on the radio. Writing quality material where they went out on a limb either with information and/or a hot take. Sometimes they scribed and said stuff I’m sure they wish they would have worded differently. Writing for a paper or speaking on the radio is a high-wire act. It is not an exact science. It can leave you exposed.

I’ve learned to listen to the discontent and sift through the gold nuggets. You can find information about your assailants if you pay close attention to the madman’s ramblings. School is in session when you read between their lines of venom. Complaints and wrongs of a personal nature reveal that they know you and watch you moving around. They see you and seethe and bake in their own juices, yet are too afraid to say to your face what they type behind the anonymity of their phones and Macbooks.

I have found a couple of these individuals because they just couldn’t let go of tearing on me. They swing and flail until they are easily identified. I revel in calling them by the anonymous names they use in public settings and watch them melt like the Wicked Witch of the West when water hits her grotesque façade.

I have found another thing about the individuals who complain and rip me and my friends. All they do is complain. I never see them helping Decatur Public Schools or working at the Good Samaritan Inn or even helping an elderly person load up their groceries. No. You won’t see that.

They will show up at city council meetings and beat their chests and openly chastise counsel members, but they never offer meaningful and constructive answers to aid their vitriolic diatribe. They do nothing to aid the community. They just sit back and wait to attack an issue they see as a personal affront.

Here’s an idea. How about for every cowardly email and social media post you make, come up with two constructive and meaningful actions we can take to make the city better?

I see public servants like our mayor, city council members, Decatur School Board members, educators, police and too many others to name pulled down like hyenas pull down a wounded animal. Yet you never see the complaining hyaenas sit in the hot seats that the servants on our counsels and boards occupy.

The shirkers, berserkers and gutless never step forward after they take their cheap shots. They never come out of the shadows because that would require them to reveal the true nature of their character.

DPS61 has stumbled and made mistakes. They are incredibly committed individuals that give of themselves and they get trounced in every forum. The school board of Decatur needs to be upfront and quit playing from behind. They need to be transparent and forthcoming. School Board President Dan Oaks would tell you he made a few mistakes, but he served this community with distinction and servitude. He needs a salute and not a grinding in a mill.

I’m going to really enrage my critics now. Thank you, DPS61 school board and administrators, for trying to do your thankless jobs.

Let’s stir the pot some more. Thank you, Decatur City Council and Mayor Moore Wolfe, for making the hard decisions to guide our city into the new frontier of the future.

Here let me really anger you. Thank you to all our civic leaders from our judges, CASA volunteers, United Way workers and to our beloved fire and policemen. You all deserve a huge salute.

And while we’re at it let me really ruffle your feathers. Thank you, Howard Buffett, for embracing Decatur and giving of your time, gifts and treasure. We are better because you came to this town.

It is not the critic that counts. It is those writers, leaders, coaches, volunteers, teachers, soldiers and veterans, radio personalities and on and on and on that are in the arena that counts. They dare greatly for a cause.

As for those cold and timid souls that hide in the anonymous shadows and lead nothing: Hope you enjoyed this.

Kevin Hale is an instructor with Decatur Public Schools.

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Attorney Ruth Schneider begins her talk on social media bullying and cyber-stalking at the Millikin University Commons in April 2019. The presentation was part of the university’s Civic Discourse Week activities.

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