I write a lot about the beauty of our region, but I have seen some ugliness here lately – and it’s had nothing to do with mud or flooding.

Two things are at the root of the animosity I have seen among area residents – the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., and the well pad explosion and subsequent evacuation near Powhatan Point. Most of the hostility I have witnessed has been aired on social media, where it seems some people feel more confident and comfortable being aggressive and belligerent toward others than they do in person.

Of course there are at least two sides to every issue; in many cases, there are several. Events such as the shooting that claimed 17 lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School cause emotions to run high throughout the nation. That makes it far more difficult for people who have opposing views on gun control to treat one another with respect and civility.

The same holds true for events like the explosion at the XTO Schnegg natural has well pad situated along Cats Run outside Powhatan. Local residents who have always feared that exploration for natural gas and oil would harm our environment see it as evidence that they were right all along. Those who leased their land for drilling and fracking may share some of those same reservations, but they opted to allow the work on their property – sometimes because doing so would lead to great financial gain for them and sometimes because believed the resources would be taken regardless of whether they signed a lease agreement.

When these folks voice their concerns and opinions in a public forum, such as social media, it seems that the men and women who earn their livings by working on or around drilling operations quickly become defensive. That is understandable, since they may feel that these more pro-conservation standpoints threaten their livelihoods.

None of these viewpoints, however, entitle any of the participants to attack one another with vicious, hurtful remarks. They do not justify name-calling and unsubstantiated accusations.

Disagreeing with someone else does not make it OK to use the foulest language you can conjure up as you belittle him or her online.

Disagreement and debate are actually important parts of our social and political processes. If we did not have and express opposing positions, fewer ideas would be developed, there would be less progress toward creative solutions and most decisions would be made without much consideration or discussion. But expressing outright malice and ill will toward others doesn’t accomplish anything – in fact, it creates roadblocks that can be insurmountable and halt all efforts toward workable solutions.

While those attacking others about these issues may believe they are expressing bitterness only toward the individual or viewpoint they are responding to, their approach can offend everyone involved, even those who may have been sympathetic to their position. Needless cursing and criticism of our entire region will get them nowhere. Telling families who have lived here for decades, or even for generations, to pack up and leave if they don’t like what is happening is not productive.

It seems to me that social media has given many adults license to behave more like children who have not yet learned the Golden Rule, an important principle of many cultures and religions. Treating others as we wish to be treated gives us some common ground, a starting point from which to work out our differences. Treating others with respect and dignity signifies that we are willing to listen to them and to truly consider what they have to say, rather than remaining determined that we, and only we are right and that there is no way to reach a compromise.

My intent here is not to weigh in on the debates about gun control or natural resource extraction. It is simply to point out that nothing will be solved if we continue to lash out at one another instead of working to arrive at solutions that will make things better for everyone.

After all, our system of government is designed to be a democratic republic. That means that the power to truly make a difference lies with the people and their elected representatives, and that every citizen gets the opportunity to weigh in. Let’s try to remember that we all have the right to express ourselves and to have a say in how we move forward.

Another type of ugliness has caught my attention in the past few days. As the snow has melted away, piles of trash have been revealed all across our area.

As I have traveled around Belmont and Ohio counties taking photos of high water during the past week or so, I have seen trash and debris of all sorts scattered along our roadsides and up and down the banks of our streams. Yards are littered with garbage that I seriously doubt was generated by the people who live there.

I have seen food wrappers, pop bottles, drink cups, plastic bags, old tires, discarded household items and even some deteriorating furniture along the way.

When the rain lets up and I have a few spare minutes to myself at home, I intend to again perform my annual ritual of picking up the trash that has been dumped along the edges of Cider Press Hill in Belmont, where I live. I know that it will need to be done again almost as soon as I finish, but I feel compelled to try and make a positive difference in my neighborhood.

There are resources available to those of you who might like to complete a similar project. In the Local section of today’s newspaper, you can find a list of community cleanup dates, sponsored by JB Green Team. I urge you to take advantage of those cleanups to clear unwanted items from your own property, or to dispose of trash you gather from along are roadsides.

For more information on how JB Green Team could help you complete a cleanup project, visit www.jbgreenteam.org.