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There’s nothing to hide

To the editor:

Ask most people who read Barry Bardone’s letters in the Herald-Star’s opinion section, and you will find that those letters are viewed as comic relief more than serious commentary.

His latest letter in the Aug. 7 edition (“It’s Biden’s recession”) prompted a need for me to correct the misinformation and claims that he makes about Ohio Valley NOW, a local chapter of the National Organization for Women, of which I am one of the founders and president. He refers to our members as “wolves in sheep’s clothing” and makes an erroneous claim that we are hiding a “clandestine agenda” by announcing guidelines for our first in-person public meeting, which was held last month.

That makes me laugh, so it may qualify as more of his comic relief, but in his eagerness to continue his ongoing demonization of feminists, or any woman who wouldn’t date him in high school, he probably didn’t realize that those guidelines came as a direct result of his unprofessional and misogynistic behavior. He complains and cast aspersions about attendance guidelines when those rules are meant to ensure the safety of our members and stop those who would invade and attempt to disrupt the efficient conduct of our meetings.

Maybe he doesn’t recognize himself in the description of unacceptable behavior, but those guidelines are meant to avert the behavior that has been displayed in the past. Bardone and a group of men infiltrated a meeting of the Jefferson County Progressive Democratic Coalition and tried to intimidate the members whenever they were given an opportunity to speak. Eventually they had to be escorted out for their behavior.

We only found out later that their actions were premeditated and they had conspired to disrupt that meeting and even consulted with a person who now holds a political office. I’m responding to the letter, not because it deserves any attention, but simply dismissing his vitriol as funny and harmless doesn’t solve the problem of his printed harassment that he flings at anyone who doesn’t share his extremist right-wing political views.

Instead of writing poison pen letters as a favorite hobby, maybe the writer should try to do something positive for our community. How about donating personal items for clients at the ALIVE shelter? How about raising money for new books for the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County? Those are the things that keep members of Ohio Valley NOW busy and contributing to our community. It’s just a shame that he rarely has something positive to write about, and if the writer is still mad over some public meeting guidelines, he needs to remember that he only has himself to blame.

Marjie DeFede

Rayland

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