‘Forum’ has most patriotic readers

In 1731, and long before the American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin wrote a column in his Pennsylvania Gazette newspaper that said “…if all Printers were determin’d not to print any thing till they were sure it would offend no body, there would be very little printed.” After all, it’s not best that we should all think alike anyways, right? In the words of Mark Twain, “…it is difference of opinion that makes horse races.”

And in that spirit, for 25 years now, The Forum has become the Kentucky Derby of honest conversation in our community, providing a voice to ideas that matter to you and me, especially in an age where “All the News That’s Fit to Print” is increasingly predictable, and very often doesn’t provide readers the benefit of editorial content that is fair, accurate or freely expressed.

It has often been said that the first principle of a free society is the free ow of words in an open forum, and The Forum gets that. In the many years that my column has appeared here, there has never been a time where anyone with the publication has suggested writing a particular point of view, or opinion, on any issue, and I trust that this is the same for the other writers whose insightful and meaningful work appear alongside mine, in each publication.

The Forum just gets it.

They understand, in the words of Thomas Jefferson, that “the only security of all is in a free press.” But while it may provide security for us all, a free press doesn’t necessarily mean consensus for us all.

And readers have certainly let me know that, in many colorful ways. Of course, we’re all familiar with the saying, “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it,” although I’m not so sure some readers would agree with that when it comes to my writing. If dissent is the highest form of patriotism, The Forum may have the most patriotic readers in our community.

An example? One reader wrote, “Your recent article in The Forum was, as usual, simplistic, Tea- Party-ish, extreme right-wing claptrap. Your article appeals to the lowest form of mob response. Other than that, I always read you, and look forward to the Forum.”

Another reader wrote, “Do you really believe all the things you write or are you attempting to sell a awed product to your target audience?” One of my most favorite criticisms of all was the reader who wrote, “Sorry, but you obviously have no idea about how our nation was founded, please keep your future opinions to yourself. Thanks.”

But many readers have given me a “thumbs up” over the years. One reader wrote, “Your article in The Forum is right on. If we do not live by Christian principles we have no principles! Please keep up the good work.”

Or another reader said, “Please keep up the good work and keep fighting the good fight.” Another reader wrote, “I always look forward to reading your column in The Forum. I really appreciate your effort and talent necessary to produce a meaningful column each issue. I just wish your latest column, ‘Tell Me Lies,’ could have national circulation.”

Of course, editorializing involves criticism, but that’s unavoidable. It was Aristotle who said that to avoid criticism is to say nothing, do nothing, and be nothing. It was Abraham Lincoln that said, “He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help,” and this is the spirit, I think, that embodies The Forum.

Whether it’s helping our community at home, or across this glorious nation, their entire organization has the heart to help, and make it better, because they understand life’s all about those “horse races” and that, in words of Thomas Jefferson, every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle.”

Louis R. Avallone is a Shreveport businessman and attorney. He is also a former aide to U.S. Representative Jim McCrery and editor of The Caddo Republican. His columns have appeared regularly in The Forum since 2007. Follow him on Facebook, on Twitter @louisravallone or by email at [email protected].