Suggestions keep coming our way. The other day someone suggested that the Village Chronicles could do something about getting a local medical clinic organized and operating. Another has suggested a local group of homeownerassociations might be useful. Yet another feels that stop signs or traffic signals would be a good thing at a specific intersection.
What to do with these ideas?
Letters to the editor allow our readers to get their thoughts beyond us and out in the open. Our letters section is named “Voices” and reflects our philosophy that the individual thoughts of our local citizens should become the voice of each person having a particular idea, which can then be shared with the rest of us.
The reaction to that single voice is often magical. Others may echo the same thought and frequently a group effort is formed to address the idea.
This newspaper is not the single voice of the community—rather it is a channel for communicating the many voices that wish and are willing to be heard. The process of sharing ideas in one central channel helps identify issues with “legs” and determines whether the citizenry supports a resolution to the issue as a priority.
Village Chronicles lends itself to this process in several ways. The paper reports news that is important for citizens to know. It provides background information on why some news items have deeper importance. It makes available guest editorial space for a thorough analysis of complex issues. And it publishes letters to the editor that reveal new ideas or reactions to previously publicized opinions.
Thus, the newspaper serves as a civic communication channel, useful to the entire community.
We only ask that you be civil and polite. Being angry about something is OK— being rude, insulting or personal is not. Focusing on the idea is the primary objective. Few will listen if your thoughts are lost in a sea of emotion, anger or ranting.
Calm consideration of ideas benefits us by providing a deeper understanding of issues and of one another.
Care to participate?
