We should be Americans first, even during election season

I dread election season. Not because of the extra work we journalists have to put in to cover the races. That's quite exhilarating, actually. No, it's because of all the vitriol and negativity by the candidates and their followers we're exposed to every day — which makes a recent letter to the editor even more refreshing.

Thomas Wilkins essentially wrote last week that many voters place their ideologies above the needs of the nation, a practice that is damaging to the welfare and solidarity of the U.S.

I couldn't agree more. People today tend to identify themselves as Democrats or Republicans first, Americans second. And they have no tolerance for those whose views differ from theirs.

In my 49 years of life I have never seen the country so polarized. The only time we become united as Americans is during major tragedies.

That's sad. We're better than that.