Reader forms opinions without columnists' help
I read the letter from the senior minister of a large Greensboro church in praise of Ed Cone. The minister went on to say he used Tom Friedman to "make sense of the Middle East," Leonard Pitts as a "guiding perspective on cultural issues" and Ed Cone to "make sense of Greensboro issues."
I use a different approach. I formulate my opinions by using my life experiences, moral and religious principles, respected experts in their fields without overt political motives and factual news sources. When I read Pitts, Cone, Friedman and the other opinion columnists, it's to get their opinions, not mine. That and for the entertainment.
If my minister or any other person in a position of leadership is using the columnists to help draw conclusions, form opinions or understand things, I hope they keep it to themselves.
Richard Thompson
Asheboro
Comments (2)
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Mr. Thompson, my response to your letter: http://tinyurl.com/2jvcpg
Posted on November 5, 2007 7:12 AM
Richard,
I think your approach is different from the ministers only by degrees, We all listen to people that we think expert & defer to them in the amount that we evaluate our relative abilities in a particular area. We can't be knowledgeable in all areas. I would defer to the minister in a discussion of the bible until I saw a reason not to.
I think sometimes this deference is sparked by disinterest & laziness. I'll accept my doctors recommendation on treating a cold verbatim. If it's cancer I'll do my own research to supplement my knowledge to at least understand why the doctor is taking this particular path.
Posted on November 5, 2007 10:02 AM