Letters reflect engaged community
In the 26 years we’ve been publishing this newspaper, I don’t think we’ve ever had the onslaught of letters to the editor as has been happening since November.
No matter one’s political persuasion, it seems everyone is paying attention to the disruption that’s happening in Washington, D.C., and then filtering down to local communities.
People are observing what’s going on and then taking the time to send us their opinions. One of the most cherished ideals in American journalism is that the opinion section should be like the public square, a place where people feel comfortable expressing their views about what’s happening in their community and in their country.
Because of the divisiveness of politics today, some newspapers have opted to curtail or completely do away with their opinions section. As a lifelong newspaper reader who cut his teeth reading some of the most influential columnists of yesteryear and today — people like William Buckley Jr., Mike Royko, Molly Ivins, Clarence Page, Anna Quindlen, Charles Krauthammer, George Will — I have an unbridled affection for a well-written opinion column. Truth be told there are too few of them today.
And I also believe strongly in those letters to the editor that we are receiving en masse these days. We try to print all we get, try to edit for facts and try to keep irate writers from libeling or slandering anyone so we won’t get sued.
That said, I’ll keep this column short so we have room for your opinions since this is your space. Unfortunately, with the amount of letters we are getting and space in the print edition limited, some letters may take a few weeks before they appear in print.
Related Items
Big Pharma ads are lies
Haywood Waterways seeks feedback
Protesters rally against Trump: Attendees angered by Musk’s influence, Democrats’ inaction
Free training on domestic violence prevention
Thanks for reading, and thanks for writing.
(Scott McLeod can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..)
