It didn’t used to feel like this.

Somewhere along the way, the ability to disagree without destroying one another slipped through our fingers. Once, people could sit across a table, hash out opposing views and walk away unchanged in opinion but unchanged in respect, too. Now, it seems the moment someone shares a perspective – even thoughtfully, even gently – they’re met with ridicule, sarcasm or worse.

We’re losing something vital and as someone who deeply believes in the First Amendment – who lives and works under its protections every day – it breaks my heart to watch that freedom become a battlefield.

At its core, the First Amendment is about more than free speech. It’s about the idea that a functioning democracy depends on a society that values different voices. It means we don’t all have to think the same. But lately, it feels like there’s a growing belief that we should and if you don’t, prepare to be attacked.

Social media has certainly played a part in all this. Scroll through any …