As the elections grow more tense the closer we get to November, the climate of unsubstantiated facts and accusatory rants is slowly spreading from the political stage to social media posts, lines at the supermarket, between pews at church and in the letters we’ve been receiving for our Opinion page at Siuslaw News. For today’s editorial, I felt the need to remind people about the the purpose of the Opinion page, why it’s so important to our democracy… And why, as editor, I have to protect it before it gets too out of hand.
Ned's Blog 
What a wonderful post Ned. I like your ethics and terms of moderation. I’d vote you for Prez! 🙂
In the social media age that you talk about, it must be harder than ever to write an opinion page because people are so polarized. On the other hand, perhaps that’s why a balanced and reasonable opinion page is more important than ever.
You nailed it, Bun. Especially in a small community, it’s crucial that the Opinion page a a place where readers can trust the information and viewpoints being offered to them — particularly during election seasons.
Reblogged this on sherriemiranda1 and commented:
Sadly, many don’t believe in opinions anymore. They believe their opinions are facts & those who oppose them are wrong. This was brought to us in large part by Karl Rove who brought us “W” (Bush Jr.) by making McCain look like he had made an illegitimate baby with a black woman so he couldn’t be trusted. It wasn’t true, but it is sad to think that we still have so much racism in this country that a tactic like that would work. From there, many have learned the tactic of leaking a lie to lower level people (preferably not part of the campaign) so they can spread the false rumors.
And, of course, today, we have Fox News listed as “Entertainment” so that they can legally lie. If this trend continues, there will be an end to TRUTH as we know it today.
Peace, love & truth in advertising,
Sherrie
Sherrie Miranda’s historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is about an American girl in war-torn El Salvador:
http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too. You can go to the Home page of her blog to watch it:
https://sherriemiranda1.wordpress.com
Or you can see it on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P11Ch5chkAc 😉 ❤ 😉
Dammit, Ned. You can’t just go around setting standards. Especially ones seeming unattainable by the “big names”. Not in the first month anyway…
Lol! Sorry, I’ll try to pace myself…
Do you realize that if you don’t print the inflammatory and polarizing letters, you’ll just further inflame and polarize the authors of these letters?
Flame ON! 😉
Chuckling in Chilliwack at your last comment, Ned. 🙂
Thanks, Robin!
very editorialish of you ned, and very well said.
Thanks, Beth. It must be the glasses 😉
This is one of the reasons I am so careful who I am friends with on Facebook. The first sign of any political drama, I unfollow whomever it is…… Even if they say something I agree with! Everyone has a right to their opinion, but let’s be civilized people! Right??
Exactly, Courtney. If I wanted to watch ranting and childish behavior I’d watch the Kardashians,,,
Who knew you’d be such a great leader, Ned?
I lost fifty bucks on that bet…
I’m sure you’ll make it up if I ever get on “Dancing With the Stars.”