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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels August 11, 2004 A voice from the wilderness Jackie Hassell's "Liberal paper of a liberal minority" made a point eloquently that is long overdue. Whether the Ashland community is dominated by a liberal, or conservative, leaning populace, its newspaper has the responsibility to report news in an objective manner, and to provide a forum for opinions across the full spectrum. Moreover, the opinions belong only on pages where they are clearly labeled as such, and should be expunged from the front page where they so often appear as direct lifts from the editorial pages of other newspapers. (The newspaper cannot allow itself to become a reincarnation of Fahrenheit 9/11). Such sloppy journalism, despite its pleasing pandering to some segments of the Tidings' audience, is beneath the dignity and intelligence of this community. I applaud Jackie for speaking out, and I applaud her sentiment of repugnance for the recent demonstrations of civil disobedience. To one friend who suggested that such "events" only exemplify the diversity and add to the color of the community, I would answer that they are merely one more rivulet eroding the granite of our social standards. Not a day had passed since the demonstration on the City Hall lawn that I was driving down Siskiyou Boulevard in one of those brief summer showers, when two rather Rubenesque females appeared in the altogether out on their apartment balcony performing (I guess) a rain dance. The behavior is without decorum and, thanks to the permissiveness of our city leaders, it is becoming unavoidable. One can only have nightmares about where the effigy incident leads in the absence of any expressions of restraint and self-respect from our community. Another friend, having recently returned from a vacation in Germany, made a worthwhile observation. More ordinances are not the answer. Common sense, and a more universal and vocal expression of disdain for this kind of behavior, seem to work effectively in many European states - particularly in Germany (where a red light is universally respected as a red light). Why don't we try a little bit of that right here at home. K. Richard Berlet Ashland Not much to go on for undecideds I am one of the large bloc of "undecided" voters in the upcoming presidential election. To date, I have neither seen nor heard either of the two major candidates say or do anything that will change my position. To me, both candidates seem to be "sparring" with nothing but hot air. And the media are being "sucked in" by giving these presidential hopefuls incredible amounts of broadcast and telecast time and press linage. What a tremendous waste of time, energy, and money! And that's the way the cookie crumbles in these "dog days" of August. Gordon B. Wilson Ashland Liberal bashing lacks credibility You are right, Jackie Hassell, (Guest Forum, Aug. 2) we do have the right to let our opinions be known and my opinion is that you are just too righteous for your shirt. Putting down our daily newspaper editor as an ultra-liberal basher, trying to make our citizens feel guilty and ashamed about their bodies, accusing our villagers of teaching children to misbehave. Please, Ms Hassell, give us a break. I have lived in and around Ashland for 20 years and I personally do not appreciate your attempt to divide a community, which has stayed cohesive for many more years than you have been here, by injecting shame, guilt, and just plain nonsense about who "has worked so hard for Ashland." Theatre people, street performers, hippies, friendly downtown merchants, participants in local parades (Yes, I said participants. Have you ever been in the parade?), skateboarders, poets, musicians - these are the people that have made Ashland an inviting, colorful, friendly, diverse place to be; not people who get all bent out of shape because of nakedness and political theatre. Our citizens, including myself, have served on government boards, participated in and organized community events, worked to provide free meals for the hungry, created and followed through on our recycling depot, and much, much more. Perhaps it is time for you to look at what you mean by "the conservative side of political thinking" and open up your heart a little to see what is already here and find a place in which to participate in order to nourish our community, rather than throwing "temper tantrums" because you "aren't getting your own way." Jill A. Iles Talent Simplistic labels simply misleading Recently the Tidings printed a Guest Forum titled "Liberal paper of liberal minority" which began with the statement "the editor seems to have bought into the ultra-liberal Ashland vibe of bashing those whom one doesn't agree with." The rest of the letter, ironically, is spent in just such a manner, bashing the "minority liberals" of Ashland. The author states that most Ashlanders are conservative, and presents cartoon images of liberals as the naked young protesters outside city hall and the people "kicking around the effigy of our president in the streets." I was proud to march with the John Kerry for President group in the Fourth of July parade. As has been reported before, there was no Bush effigy in our group (why does this false accusation keep getting repeated?) We were diverse - over a hundred marchers of all ages and many political philosophies, brought together by a concern for our country and a desire to help John Kerry return America to true American values. I met people who didn't fit any stereotype of a "liberal" - people concerned with health care, the massive deficits, the prison scandals, and the badly mismanaged war in Iraq which has made us less safe. As we marched we were greeted with enthusiastic cheers and waves of support from the people of Ashland and the Rogue Valley. Ashland is a wonderful community of caring and intelligent people - too complex to be reduced with simplistic and misleading labels. Tom Mathieson Ashland Other views deserve respect Thank you to Jackie Hassell for speaking up on behalf of the conservatives in this town of Ashland who generally are intimidated by the liberal hometown newspaper. She is right-on with her comments about the unabashed nudity by some exhibitionists and the in-your-face antics at the Fourth of July Parade. She is right about Ashland being a town of diversity where all should be able to speak their views; however, without bashing others with opposing views, or fear of being bashed. Mary Donohue Ashland DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams