High Road

No matter how cynical, dirty or ugly politics can become, it shows tremendous insensitivity to compare the second deadliest disease in our country to the American political process. In his paid op-ed in the Missourian, Tommy Sowers sensationally trivialized how cancer has touched so many Missourians -- every time, for the worse.

As a most recent cancer survivor, one who has lost a parent to cancer, and as the great friend of a woman who lost her husband to cancer, I fail to see the need to use the image of cancer to further one's political campaign. Flippant comparisons to cancer and calling other Americans, "a cancer," may effectively grab attention, but at the expense of minimizing the pain, suffering, and family loss due to this devastating, deadly disease. Real leaders build others up, not tear them down with coarse, cavalier, cynical comments just to make themselves look good. I am truly sorry to see that Tommy Sowers has felt the need to do so.