Dee Shorns: Public commentary was unnecessarily hostile, dismissive

To The Daily Sun,

I was disappointed to see the tone of recent public commentary regarding a resident who expressed concern about the town fire horn. While the fire horn may be a long-standing tradition, the response directed at a newer resident was unnecessarily hostile and dismissive.

People experience their environments differently. Some individuals have heightened auditory sensitivity, health conditions, or other personal factors that make certain sounds genuinely distressing. A community that prides itself on being welcoming should be able to hold space for those realities without resorting to ridicule or “if you don’t like it, leave” attitudes.

Small towns across New Hampshire actively promote themselves as friendly, inclusive, and attractive to both visitors and new residents. We invest time and resources into tourism, local business growth, and community development. That effort is undermined when public discourse becomes toxic toward people who are simply trying to engage in good faith about quality-of-life concerns.

Traditions matter. So does basic decency. These two things do not have to be in conflict. A healthier approach would be conversation, mutual understanding, and a willingness to listen — not personal attacks or gatekeeping over who “belongs” in town.

If we want vibrant communities that thrive, we should be modeling respect, not driving people away for asking questions or expressing discomfort. If nothing else, what are we teaching our children?

Dee Shorns

Laconia