Politics has always been a rough-and-tumble game as I learned while running for public office. Recently it has become an even less civil game and frankly, a more childish one.When criticism is leveled against a political party, candidate or office holder, instead of delineating where and why the criticism is unwarranted, the opposition resorts to juvenile name calling. "Whining" and "pouting" seem to be current favorites.In an ugly perversion of English, the word for one of nature's most exquisite creations is gaining ground. According to Merriam-Webster, snowflake has developed a new and decidedly less pleasant use as a disparaging term for a person who is seen as overly sensitive and fragile."In the lead-up to the 2016 U.S. elections it was lobbed especially fiercely by those on the right side of the political spectrum at those on the left. And the snowball fight has continued since.Regardless of political persuasion, those who hurl insults instead of reason might want to reconsider their tactics. Epithets reflect poorly on those who hurl them suggesting the hurler has no class and possibly a lack of vocabulary as well as no legitimate argument, only a stockpile of playground taunts.Remember, overly sensitive, fragile snowflakes can become a treacherous blizzard.