Editorial simply expressed opinion

To the editor:

My comments are in reference to the letter published in the Jan. 18 edition of The Commercial Review.

In that letter, Brenda Fennig expressed an opinion that one of Jack Ronald’s editorials was biased. I don’t concur with Ms. Fennig’s opinion. 

JR’s editorial was neither unreasoned or preconceived, which is the basis for alleging bias. JR was simply offering an opinion based on information in the public domain.

Newspaper publishers enjoy the freedoms of the first amendment just like you do, Ms. Fennig.

It was a fortuitous happenstance that in the same edition of The Commercial Review a column by Leonard Pitts addressed the very issue on which Ms. Fennig and I disagree.

I will take the liberty of paraphrasing and direct quoting Mr. Pitts where applicable. “Partisans are more likely to cry “Fake news!” whenever truth hurts their feelings or facts puncture their fantasies.” The job of a journalist is to provide information, it is not to dictate how it (information) is used.

A journalist must summon the courage to find the truth. It is up to each of us to find the courage to hear it.

A man named Pontius Pilate many years ago struggled with what is truth; I propose that truth is the quest for knowledge, no matter the outcome.

Michael Kinser

Portland