A columnist without evidence can't persuade
On April 27, new community columnist David Johnson wrote, "The press has failed to expose the fallacy in the administration's attempt to characterize the (warrantless domestic spying) program as one that only spies on terrorists."
Mr. Johnson has every right to argue this view, and many surely agree with him. He could be right; I don't know. But to be credible and persuasive — or to actually change anyone's opinion — he should offer evidence for anything presented as a statement of fact.
If the press has indeed failed to expose such a "fallacy," it seemingly isn't because of a lack of motivation, considering the furor over domestic spying. Can Mr. Johnson expose it? Does he have specifics to back up his assertion? If not, perhaps he should have developed another example.
Much of today's opinion writing is the verbal equivalent of sticking out one's tongue and then running, which doesn't add much to the level of civic discourse.
To be fair, I don't believe that was Mr. Johnson's intention, and I wish him and the other new community columnists well as they begin to offer their thinking and writing for public evaluation.
Bob Garner
Burlington
Comments (3)
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Are you the Bob Garner who eats all the barbecue on UNCTV? If so, you need to lower your blood pressure a little and chill.
Mr. Garner,
You made one indisputable remark. "Mr.Johnson has every right to argue this view,"
You just disagree. As a movie character once said, "You can't handle the truth".
Posted on May 4, 2006 8:06 AM
Bob Garner failed to prove that David Johnson failed to prove that the Bush Administration failed to prove that..............
Whatever.
Posted on May 4, 2006 8:36 AM
Daniel Patrick Moynihan famously said that everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts. This is hopelessly retrograde. Everyone is entitled to his own facts, too--at least if they help to lubricate an argument with which I agree.
Posted on May 5, 2006 1:36 AM