Isms: Views on life in Rural America

Arthur Miller wrote, “A good newspaper is a nation talking to itself.”

I like the idea of conversation generating from the newspaper, especially from items on this page. In college, my journalism prof, Sharon Behl Brooks, stressed how editorial (or commentary or opinion ... whatever label you pin on it) presents a point of view, sparks discussion and, at its core, prompts critical thinking.

The editorial page of the Advocate-Messenger does that and presents a wide range of thoughts. On the commentary page, readers will find a variety of viewpoints. That’s a healthy dose of editorial content th...