“Who are you? Cuz I really want to know.” — The Who
I’m aware that you know who Jim Powers is, or at least you think you do.
He and I toss out our random and sometimes at-odds ramblings on the editorial pages of our group’s newspapers. However, let me further introduce you.
When I first met Jim, he was a very nice and respectful man that ramrodded the technology needs of Polk County Publishing. That, strangely enough, is a passion of mine as well (my long-suffering wife will attest to this), since I collect, tinker and keep all things computer and phone alive in our house.
I then found out he is a camera and photography buff, which, again, is something we have in common.
To top it off, I saw during a Zoom meeting one day that he has quite a good collection of guitars, and since I’m somewhat of a guitar player myself, this pointed to yet another commonality betwixt us two.
Lastly, we write columns, another trait shared.
“I wholly disapprove of what you say — and will defend to the death your right to say it.” — Voltaire, in a roundabout manner
The one — emphasis on one — apparent difference we have is politics.
In last week’s column by our esteemed publisher Kelli Barnes, she posed a question about canceling the editorial page in our newspapers. Seems there was a few — emphasis on few — folks vehemently opposed to the content of the page.
I realize that may have been a knee-jerk reaction, but in this day and age, the best description that will be used by historians is intolerance for the social and political climate. Seriously, the idea that speech is free, but doesn’t come with a shield from consequences, has been taken to such an extreme as to incite violence.
That’s ridiculous, because it’s based on premises that extremely faulty: people who do not subscribe to your way of thinking are evil and must be destroyed, and there can be only one way to solve a problem, and yours ain’t it.
“Why don’t we listen to the voices in our hearts? Cuz then I know we’d find we’re not so far apart.” — Uriah Heep
I pointed out the similarities that Jim and I have, and I’m betting there’s more. The only difference we have, as I see it, is how to go about solving problems.
Both of us want to see fair courts, zero poverty, veterans and senior citizens taken care of — the list goes on. The difference between us is how our governments (local, state, federal) should go about accomplishing those goals.
I’m of the belief that a central government being the arbiter of everything is the wrong thing to do and something our Founding Fathers actively fought against. My solution should be people helping people, not forced to do it through taxation and regulation.
Jim thinks otherwise. I won’t insult him by codifying his thought process — that’s for him to do, and you see it in his columns.
These differing opinions are how progress is made, how ideas are born, how we grow as a society. Anything else ends up in a fight, and frankly, this country fought a devastating civil war over something that could have been solved in a controlled debate.
Let freedom — and ideas — reign and leave assumptions about character or desire out of our writings and speeches.
“What’s so funny ‘bout peace, love and understanding?” — Nick Lowe via Elvis Costello
Tony Farkas is editor of the Trinity County News-Standard and the San Jacinto News-Times. He can be reached at tony@polkcountypublishing.com.
