At an August 26 event celebrating the end of the long and tortuous Main Street construction in Searsport, Sen. Susan Collins was repeatedly interrupted by protesters who were critical of her votes to arm and finance the Israeli genocide in Gaza.  At one point Collins asked the protesters to show respect for those who came for the construction-related event.  

The problem is that Collins never holds any town halls, so her constituents that are worried — and angry — about U.S. support for the Israeli genocide, and about the steady erosion of democracy under President Trump, have no way to speak with her about these defining issues.  

If Susan Collins is worried about respect, perhaps she should show some respect for the people who have sent her to Washington for the last 28 years — by meeting with them in something more than drive-by photo ops.  And if she's not willing to do that, she should step aside and make way for someone who's willing to venture outside their comfort zone and do their job.

Lawrence Reichard lives in Belfast