Hernando Today
Why Read The Editorial Page?
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Published: April 15, 2008
Updated: 04/15/2008 09:22 am
Ted Rall's columns in the Hernando Today have started a discussion about the appropriateness of his opinions. I began with the question: "What's the matter with newspapers today? Taking into account my name being mentioned by other letter writers, I would like to take issue with some of the response.
What is the intention of the editorial (or, substitute the word column here), or for that matter, the letters to the editor? When I open the editorial page of any newspaper, I expect that the editor, or the letter writer, will have some point that will cause me to consider (or re-consider) my opinion of the subject. As long as the editorial or letter espouses the radical point of the issue, my mind, and I suspect that of all other readers, shuts down. This indicates that the editorial or letter will not cause me to either consider or re-consider the issue. At this point, the issue devolves to an argument among radical thinkers, and the middle road, or any effort to make someone else think, is completely lost.
Recent letters have taken the "Editor's note" to task for indicating the opinions expressed in the paper's columns are from eight conservatives, two independents and one liberal. The editor indicates that Ted Rall's "column provides a broader perspective of views on issues of concern to readers." I believe that the readers of Hernando Today deserve better than this kind of "perspective of views." He also indicates that "if someone can show examples of misstatements of factual information" he will remove Ted Rall's weekly column. The discourse required would certainly not be short enough for the paper to print, as the meaning of such words as torture camps, spying on Americans, stolen elections, and tax cuts for the rich require considerable discussion.
Francis Earl, in "Rall Writes the Truth," (April 10), says that the only bias she sees is that there is only one liberal. She writes, "A routine check on your part with the Supervisor of Elections will indicate that your paper is not fairly representative..." I would like to ask Francis Earl this question? When did the supervisor of elections start labeling the voters, (read citizen's) with liberal or conservative? (Gee, at least "independent" works, but not for the reasons germane to this argument.) If that is truly the case, I will personally start the campaign for impeachment. Remind us also, what is "Democracy for America?" It is an organization founded from the presidential campaign of Howard Dean, so we can be sure of the objectivity there.
Lastly, let me say that I believe that the best interests of the readers of the Hernando Today would be to find messages that are not comprised of the radical points of view, because I think the public's "perspective of views" does not accept the radical points that columnists such as Ted Rall espouses. I do not advocate non-discussion of any issue, just a reasoned approach, intended to make the reader consider their "perspective of views." See the editorial page today, if you ask me, the "Bigotry, Apology, Repeat as Necessary" (April 10) finger needs to be pointed at Ted Rall. This is just more radical garbage.
Stephen Endsley
Spring Hill
Editor's note: The problem is individual opinion. What you view as radical, other folks view as rational. Some folks might think that wanting to ban a columnist from the editorial page because of his views is radical. Therefore, our editorial pages will c
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