The rule of thumb is that you do not talk with people you like about politics, religion or money.
But, alas, this is the opinions page, so we flex our creative muscles and discuss topics people enjoy debating – hopefully in a polite, respectful manner.
A faithful reader of The Graham Star sent me a nice email last week, commending the diversity found each week on page 4. My response was, “I believe it is imperative that a newspaper present various viewpoints on its opinions page. As long as I am editor, that will not change.”
Ana Williams’ column from the Oct. 10 edition – discussing her views on abortion – generated little in the way of mail. However, Robbi Pounds’ rebuttal – published in the Oct. 24 edition – has flooded my inbox with people wanting to discuss the topic.
Why? Because Robbi’s column supported women’s right to have an abortion. I do not think I need to say more; the letters published last week and this week speak for themselves, with the consensus seemingly split right down the middle.
I consistently hear feedback on Roger Carlton’s columns as well. He covers a wide range of topics, from President Donald Trump (gasp!) to sports. I applaud his efforts to bring hot-button topics into the newspaper and present them for interpretation in a fair way.
Marshall McClung presents a historic angle every time he submits a column, and we need even more of that. There is so much rich history in Graham County, and as a history buff I can’t get enough.
As always, you are welcome to respond to any of our published columns. Letters to the editor are always appreciated and encouraged, regardless of the viewpoint expressed. You can drop them off at our office on Tallulah Road or email them to editor@grahamstar.com.
Remember – you are the reason The Star exists. Discussion in this newspaper is not just limited to the faces you see on this page most weeks.
Thanks for reading. We hope you continue to enjoy the diversity we try to present in each edition.
Kevin Hensley is the editor for The Graham Star. You can reach him by phone, 479-3383; email, editor@grahamstar.com; or on Twitter @KevinHensleyCNI.