(Letter to the Editor - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

I hate to see the divisions growing in our country. Our enemies cannot defeat us militarily, but they have determined the best way to bring about our demise is for us to turn on each other. Thus, Russia, China, and others have devoted many resources to using the Internet to spread misinformation.

Social media algorithms do nothing to filter the junk from polluting our newsfeeds. The bot masters in Moscow, Beijing, and elsewhere use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create new and more disturbing memes to jack us around on both sides. They want us to get mad and fight.

I’ve noticed this happening to a great extent this past week. My conservative friends seem to only have viewed all the good things about Charlie Kirk. My liberal friends seem to only know about all the controversial things he has said. Neither side seems to know or understand the whole person — and he was a complicated person. But most importantly, he DID NOT DESERVE TO BE ASSASSINATED! Nor did anyone else ever killed for their beliefs.

As someone who often finds himself in the political middle, I would not want the left or the right to do opposition research on me, because so much can be taken out of context. It can be done to anybody, and provocative memes would soon get folks riled up (especially when AI is used to make phony pictures, sound bites, and video clips).

We need Americans to realize that our enemies are thrilled to see us fighting amongst ourselves. We need to step away from the social media onslaught and 24 hour news cycle to relax, take a breath, and give grace. Maybe there’s more to the story than what a meme can tell. One doesn’t have to get angry over someone you’ve never met or studied. Our focus should be more on local leaders than national leaders. Those are the people we can get to know the best.

Chill, and remember we are all Americans.

David Kurtz

(former Wood County Board of Eduction member)

Victor, W.Va.