Polarization is rampant everywhere, on every single issue. Media amplifies it and social media regurgitates it endlessly. Freedom of speech is good, and passion is great indeed, as long as the discussions and debates are civil, positive and constructive.

The people who are taking the extreme positions are so noisy and vitriolic on all the sides, that trying to talk sense and bring about balance, feels like a Herculean task.

There are perhaps more moderates in this world, than those that take extreme positions, but their problem is that they are silent, perhaps not wanting to risk getting hurt and bloodied, in this senseless war of diatribes and invite a deluge of unsolicited hate mail and despicable comments.

Moderation is certainly the need of the hour, and we need more empathy and understanding on all sides. To some extent, compromise is needed to facilitate people to come to the center and carve out a path ahead, together. Yet, it is often portrayed as surrender, or a sellout, by those who are firmly entrenched in their extreme positions, thereby hampering progress. And if we allow politicians on all sides to fan hatred, instead of fostering mutual understanding, respect and peace, the problem is immensely exacerbated.

Unfortunately, the first casualty in any argument seems to be facts. People have a strong sense of identity that stems from their language, religion, gender, education and upbringing, and they perceive things differently, form their own opinions without verifying facts, and cherry pick only those ‘facts’ or some ‘dimensions of facts’, to corroborate their opinions, and indulge in selective praise or outrage, depending upon their position on any issue.

How can we change this sad and destructive trend? It is possible only if more moderates come forward to break their silence and speak up firmly, and reason with facts and figures, with an abundance of patience and perseverance, and bring people together.

It is perhaps easier said than done, but it is much-needed today, for civility and sanity to return to public discourse and debate.

Last July, Representative Steve King (Iowa, Republican) had questioned “other sub groups” and their “contribution to civilization.” I had shared my thoughts in my blog post on it, earlier. Obviously he seems to be on the path of discovering new lows for himself, with his distasteful declaration in a recent tweet – “We can’t restore our civilization with somebody else’s babies.”

When the media asked him to clarify, he reiterated his stance and added, “If you go down the road a few generations, or maybe centuries, with the inter-marriage, I’d like to see an America that is just so homogenous that we look a lot the same,” he said.

“Homogeneous”? Seriously, Rep. King?

I know that facts may not mean much to you, as we now live in this Trumpian, post-facts era. Nevertheless, let me try to present just three, with the vain hope of educating folks such as yourself.

According to some studies out there:

• About 40% of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or by sons and daughters of immigrants.
• Since 2000, 31 of the 78 Nobel Prize winners from USA, have been immigrants.
• And last but certainly not the least, approximately 65,000 immigrants serve in the US Armed Forces.

To me, it is quite obvious that the dire need right now, is to protect and restore civilization from your hateful ideology. And I therefore propose that if you have the ability to do so, please realize your responsibilities as an US Congressman. Please strive to foster and celebrate unity in diversity. Please ensure a civil and harmonious discourse in society, and nurture egalitarian ideals. Please try to bring people together and encourage them to leverage each others’ strengths and complement each other, to make this world a better place.

If you cannot do that, please step aside. Perhaps “somebody else’s babies” should try.