Whoa now... Helene Harrison starts out her letter to the editor, “at the risk of sounding I’m against free speech…” and then proceeds to do just that.
No newspaper in the free world, that I know of, is restricted to opinions from just one geographical area. She may not like the opinions of a Keith Sketchley or a Tom Fletcher, to which the correct answer is “too bad” and “tough.”
Newspapers are the product of their owner and publisher and they can choose which opinions to run or not run. Intelligent opinion which contributes to setting the record straight on any issue or topic is to be welcomed from wherever it originates. That’s why big city dailies often run letters to the editor from readers half way across the country or from the other side of the world.
And neither Sketchley or Fletcher are given “endless amount of space.” They are given what the editor and publisher deem is appropriate space. In my opinion Helene Harrison was given too much space for her rant at 18 column inches, but hey, that’s just my opinion and I’m entitled to it.
Andy Neimers
Sooke