This opinion piece is in response to “Pikes Peak Bulletin needs opinion piece policy to avoid shutting voices out” by Heila Rogers in our May 30 edition. –ed
When I read the recent, well-written opinion piece by Heila Rogers, it sounded familiar.
A lot of my MAGA friends have been calling for unity, kindness and constructive dialogue. Now they want peace and reconciliation.
I get it. I used to be a major proponent of the “civic journalism” movement, which argued that reporters and editors should have a certain bias, and that bias should be seen in all their news coverage and commentaries. That bias would be rooting for our community to succeed.
Clearly, Ms. Rogers believes in the notion that journalism should be community-focused. But my problem with Ms. Rogers’ column is less with substance than the timing.
She’s arguing that we’re driven by fear when we should be leading with compassion. I would agree if the house weren’t on fire. There are times when fear and anger are the only sane responses.
That’s why our president has declared journalists “enemies of the people.” They’re actually the sane ones, shouting “fire!” when some lunatic keeps pouring gasoline on the flames and convincing a solid 35% of the country that it’ll work out fine.
If you think it will work out fine, don’t invite us to sing “Kumbaya.” Convince us that the flames we’re seeing in the news every damn day aren’t real. Argue with actual facts that:
● The “Big Beautiful Bill” wouldn’t represent the largest upward transfer of wealth from the poor and middle class to the rich in American history.
● Targeting programs that educate our children, enrich literacy, support our veterans, feed the poor, provide safety nets and engage the country with our allies throughout the world is making us great again.
● Destroying the balance of power – our three branches of government set up by our Founding Fathers – is OK if we really, really like the president.
● Tossing out the rule of law and the right to due process while demonizing brown people and those who speak out against Israel is the American way.
Rogers argues that “we want to be able to safely walk along the path of life together.” The only way we can walk down that path in peace and harmony is with blinders on.
We’d have to ignore the nanny down the street being dragged out of her home, our cousin in college getting arrested for leading a peaceful protest, our trans daughter being detained at TSA because her gender doesn’t match the one listed on her passport.
I can’t walk that path. That is a path of destruction, evil and everything our country’s founders fought against.
I can’t sing Kumbaya while we march toward tyranny.
Sidenote
In defense of “emotional language, ad hominem attacks,” and my friend, Bulletin columnist John Hazlehurst:
Read Dave Barry. Read Andy Borowitz. Read old columns by former Gazette columnist Rich Tosches.
The place for ad hominem has a long, storied tradition that goes back to Shakespeare and the fools who risked their lives by mocking the king.
