What is noteworthy about the letters and the responses is how civil
people are in their point-counterpointing with each other. This is,
after all, a small town. It's foolhardy to give a verbal wham bam in
the local paper to the person you'll be standing in line with at the
coffee shop.
It's heartening that people read the opinions of their fellow community
members and are engaged enough to respond -- and respond civilly. The
discourse is refreshing and represents a community where people not
only listen to what their neighbors have to say, they respect it and
when they disagree they generally disagree politely -- whether publicly
or not.
The editorial staff of <MI>The Valley Reporter<D> is often
asked by readers if the paper will respond to reader opinion pieces and
letters. Ninety-nine percent of the time, the answer is no, we will not
respond.
In the free marketplace of ideas of our community, it is seldom
necessary to respond because our readers will do so in spades, as
evidenced by the response to our reader who opined that Waitsfield was
dying on the vine. The responses were varied and passionate but all
reasoned and well thought out.
There is/was nothing more that the editorial staff of <MI>The
Valley Reporter<D> could add or might need to add to what has
been said on this subject. We thank our readers for their participation
and are honored that the pages of this paper are a place where
differing opinions and ideas are debated.
Opinions? You've got a million of 'em -- keep those cards and letters (and emails) coming.
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