BuzzFlash Reader Contribution

CONTRIBUTOR ARCHIVES  

Democracy in Action -- in BuzzFlash's Mailbag

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION

Dear Buzz:

There are times when I've cringed at some of the titles you use to direct readers to articles on the BuzzFlash website. In certain instances, the feeling I got was -- well, similar to the one you get when your kid does something that embarrasses you. You still love him but.... And then the past two or three days I see you've printed letters from readers expressing a similar response, letters from people crying "tasteless", "uncalled for", "cheap shot", "low blow", and "snarky."

I subscribe to a monthly literary magazine called The Sun (which accepts no advertising). They often print fiction and photographs that embarrass, offend, and outrage some readers (myself included). And they also print letters from those readers calling them to task for it, some even going so far as to cancel their subscriptions.

Why didn't I cancel my subscription to The Sun and why will I continue to read this magazine and to go to BuzzFlash for my daily news? Because the world is not all black and white, because bad exists along with good, because we have to at least discuss the gray areas, and because we can't just choose to isolate ourselves (like Bush) where we hear only what pleases us. It takes guts to show that not all your readers are loyal fans, that some strongly disagree with how you choose to present something.

This is democracy, folks. Everybody gets their opinion listened to. Sometimes in our screaming out against injustice, we lapse into name calling, providing easy ammo for those who sum us up (as if this defines us), collectively, as "liberal, whining, sore-losing Bush bashers." I think of the thousands of BuzzFlash readers as a kind of family, made up of nurturing mothers, cautious fathers, teasing brothers, loyal sisters, nagging aunts, crazy uncles, wonderful cousins -- the whole kit and caboodle, we're all in this together. Keep trekkin' Buzz. Democracy in action.

A BuzzFlash Reader

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION

BuzzFlash Note: Thanks.