Posted by
Frigglesnitz on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 8:25:47 PM
In my past comments and blog posts, it has been my habit to write about whatever topic comes to mind. Usually these comments and posts relate to some current event; sometimes my posts relate directly to the columns appearing here on the "pages" of Townhall.
Recently I made a comment to one of Townhall's frequent and, I believe, favored columnists and made the mistake of participating in a little back-and-forth with another commenter, at last taking the bait when he said, among many other things: "Yes, of course we are free to speak our opinions, I certainly wouldn't want it any other way, but we are also accountable for what we say. Therefore, we had better be willing and able to answer the hard questions and defend our position with something more substantive than just our 'feelings'. Wouldn't you agree? Everyone has an opinion, Frigglesnitz. The question then becomes, can we back it up?"
It had never once occurred to me that any blog writer must "back up" an opinion.
It certainly never entered my mind that I must justify my opinion to anyone. I believe that is a result of having been born American.
Going to the dictionary, I found definitions for "opinion" and proffered them to the commenter. Of course they were insufficient for him.
I went to the trouble of reminding him that Townhall's own columnists' columns are referred to as "opinions," and that I did not recall Townhall saying those opinions must be facts set in cement. Further, I pointed out to him that Townhall readers were asked, "Do you have something to say? Make your opinion heard." I do not recall Townhall telling bloggers or commenters to state "just the facts, ma'am" or to state any reason for opinions put forth.
When I remembered that two-thirds of my opinion was "backed up" by the Supreme Court of the United States of America, I so commented and hoped that would be the last of this little fiasco. Wrong.
So here I am. I am here to say that the remaining one-third of my opinion was based strictly on feelings, not cemented-in facts. What is the punishment for this offense?
It is my understanding that many Presidents are elected on no more than somebody's "feelings." What's more, it is their absolute right to do so.
The commenter in question wrote a left-handed apology (two of them, actually) and a left-handed compliment; I said that I was among those who can detect same and that one is better off ignoring both.
I did invite this person to create a blog of his own here. I believe he indicated an intention to do so. I told him I couldn't wait, and that I still knew the difference between left and right.
Whatever he writes, I surely hope he is willing and able to answer the hard questions and defend his position (translated: opinion) with something more than "feelings." He will be accepted by Townhall; he will be on an equal footing with all other bloggers.
There are so many bright, intelligent, lucid, entertaining thinkers among the bloggers here at Townhall that perhaps some day he may conclude that his opinion is all he can give. Perhaps he will learn that it is enough.